Japan's purchase power due to a strong yen has led to aggressive acquisitions of foreign companies by Japanese conglomerates. NTT's mobile phone unit NTT DoCoMo, for example, has acquired a 26 percent stake in Tata Teleservices of India for $2.7 bi and almost 80% of Germany's Net Mobile or about $51 mi. This article details other impressive recent deals.

"Microsoft has entered the Group Buying market by launching a joint venture in Australia with 2 of the country's largest print and digital media companies."

"Through his prolific work and desire to entertain, Stan Lee has influenced pop culture for 71 years. He started working as a writer and proofreader in 1939 for the comic book company that would become Marvel. "

"Google Inc's legal chief called for pressure on governments that censor the Internet, such as China and Turkey, arguing that their blocking access to websites not only violates human rights but unfairly restrains U.S. trade."

"Google Inc. Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said the Internet giant plans to launch its Google TV platform globally next year, in the company's latest move to expand its reach outside its core U.S. market."

"Since he began tweeting on July 28, Kanye has amassed more than 700,000 followers with his occasionally astute and often bizarre updates on his lavish lifestyle. "

"Apple might have shined its spotlight Wednesday on Apple TV and the new iPods, but at the same time, it had a clear message for the video game industry: We're coming for you-and it's going to be an ugly fight. "

"Apple jumped into the social networking business on Wednesday, introducing Ping, a service built into iTunes that is intended to help users discover new music and, presumably, buy more songs from Apple. "

Apple has just unveiled its latest version of Apple TV. How does it compare with Google TV?

"Sony will begin its latest attempt to fight back against Apple's dominance in the digital media field on Wednesday, when it unveils a new music and video subscription service to run across a range of its devices."

"Online retailer Amazon is trying to create a service that gives paying subscribers unlimited access to some television shows and movies over the Internet, The Wall Street Journal reported."

"Several factors are attracting faith-based filmmakers to Central Florida as their location of choice."