If FriendFeed displayed only video, it might look like Utagoe Live 100. The service lets you track live video streams from all of your friends on one screen. Tokyo-based Utagoe just launched it as a hub for broadcasting and watching multiple, free live video streams simultaneously (from sites like Qik, Ustream, Justin.tv etc.), video-based chatting and conferencing. Aiming mainly at the U.S. and European markets, the service is available in English.

Utagoe Live 100 is browser-based and, as its main selling point, requires just a 400 kbps Internet connection to display around 100 different live streams on one screen (settings can be individually adjusted). The underlying technology, dubbed “traffic controller”, is self-developed.

Google’s foray into the online video market has been criticized by many. In fact, some believe that Google’s decision to acquire YouTube was one of the worst it has ever made, thanks to the confluence of massive copyright violations and Google’s financial backing, which gave copyright holders the impetus they needed to sue the popular site. Others believe that Google’s decision to enter the online video market and become a quasi-content firm wasn’t the best way for it to capitalize on the booming video advertising business. Either way, Google is now wholeheartedly invested in online video and YouTube is the centerpiece of its strategy.

YouTube’s Sorry Situation

YouTube may be wildly popular, but Google’s ability to realize a profit has been difficult, at best. The company spent $1.65 billion for YouTube and so far, it has yet to find a way to monetize it effectively and realize a positive return on its investment.

The creator of US TV drama The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin, is making a film about the controversial origins of Facebook.

The social networking site, which now counts more than 100 million users, has already distanced itself from the yet-to-be-named movie, saying it has not agreed to cooperate with any film project.

Harvard alumni magazine 02138 reported the film would be an adaptation of Ben Mezrich's upcoming book, Face Off, which includes allegations that founder Mark Zuckerberg stole the idea for the site from classmates and started it in 2004 as a way to meet women.

Rumours that user-driven news website Digg is close to being sold to Google Inc. have resurfaced, with the internet search leader reportedly offering around $200 million US for the social news site.

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 Forget those mass-produced stereos—the road to top-quality sounds begins in your house, not at Best Buy. TONS OF PHOTOS

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Phone companies Embarq Corp. and CenturyTel Inc. have both completed trials of the same tracking system, from online advertising company NebuAd Inc., and are now considering whether to proceed.

The largest U.S. Internet provider that had been actively looking at Web tracking, Charter Communications Inc., announced Tuesday that it had canceled its planned test because customers had raised concerns.

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Bill Gates' retirement from Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) later this week marks the end of an era for the software giant, thrusting CEO Steve Ballmer into the spotlight during one of the most challenging periods in the company's history.

The departure of Gates, who will remain the company's non- executive chairman, coincides with an escalating rivalry with Google Inc (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and other competitors who are using the Internet to chip away at Microsoft's software dominance.

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International Art Gallery This is Art London showcasing works by leading contemporary artist Paul Ygartua have started a new summer exhibition with some amazing new original abstract artwork . We definately recommend checking this out to spice up your office with some office artwork.

Check it out at www.thisisartlondon.com

One of the most interesting things that happened at Google’s I/O conference today was the launch of Google Earth browser plugin.

This doesn’t mean that Google Maps is on its way to the dustbin just yet. Google Maps will not serve Google Earth’s imagery; it merely gives developers a way to build mashups using Google Earth, too. And it means we’ll be seeing a lot of cool 3D geomashups (remember, Google Earth is 3d, Google Maps are 2d) all over the place in the future.

The really cool thing is that you can turn existing Google Maps mashups into Google Earth mashups using a single line of code. Of course, Google Earth API lets you do stuff you couldn’t do with Maps: you can control the camera, create lines and markers, add polygons, as well as import 3D models and overlay them anywhere you like. Google Sky is also available, which I’m sure will result in some nifty space mashups.

The plugin is already available for installation at Google Earth API official site; you can see an introductory video below.

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