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"Google's "Smartphone Launch Predictor" study found that 52 percent of purchase-related searches occur before a smartphone is launched. According to Google, the key to a successful smartphone launch is getting ahead of the release and marketing early. "One of the biggest factors is getting early buzz. Getting early buzz is key [for a successful smartphone launch]," Google Industry Director for Tech Kyle Keogh told ClickZ. The study found that the earlier a firm markets a smartphone the more likely they are to succeed in sales. According to Google, an extra 1,000 news stories put in place weeks before a launch can lead to a 9 percent spike in smartphone sales. Google's research discovered that users tend to do general product searches in the week during launch. After launch, it was discovered that consumers dig deep and search for key specifications on a device. Video is also becoming a key research tool for consumers shopping for a smartphone. According to the study, video views for smartphones increased 60 percent this year. Google says that if a smartphone gets over 1 million video views during launch week it will likely sell over 1.3 million units."

"Sony has announced that it will be launching the first 4K video distribution service for consumers, giving 4K TV buyers their first real source of content. We don't have much information about the service, but it will be launching in the US this summer, both potentially creating a 4K market and giving Sony an edge. It's something Sony originally tried with 3D, trying to handle all facets of the feature from content creation to distribution and playback. "We intend to expand the world of 4K content from beyond the cinema to TV dramas and commercials," Sony's Kaz Hirai said during the conference at CES. Sony has already announced a series of remastered 4K Blu-rays, and as with 3D, the company is trying to sell studios on the benefits of 4K. Meanwhile, it's announced the first-ever 4K OLED prototype TV and new models of its consumer-ready 4K TVs. In the US, though, super high-def digital distribution could be hampered by ISPs, which aren't likely to look kindly on the stress this will cause their pipes."

"Social TV start-up Miso has launched a new product, Quips, that allows users to select a scene from a TV show, caption it with their thoughts and share their commentary on a Quips feed, or to Facebook and Twitter."

" This week the New York Times Research & Development Labs launched a new tool called Compendium, which lets readers "use articles, imagery, videos, and quotations to tell your own stories using New York Times content." A good comparison might be Storify for a single source's content, or Pinterest with more text."

"Of the 30 brands that have signed on thus far, only five will be running campaigns in the U.S. Twentieth Century Fox, one of two global launch advertisers, will promote its upcoming film Life of Pi with ads in the Xbox Video app, Xbox companion mobile and tablet app SmartGlass app and the Casual Games app, which spans Xbox and Microsoft's desktop and mobile operating systems. And next month the other global launch advertiser, Nissan, will run ads in the Bing and Xbox Music apps. Though it seems the in-app ads are initially only slated to run within Microsoft's own apps, the company said several publishers-such as The Associated Press, Bonnier Corporation, Photobucket, Slacker Radio and The Tribune Company-have agreed to run the units. In announcing the roster of initial advertisers, Microsoft also put out some stats regarding consumer perception of the ad units. The most encouraging stat found that the ads scored a 92 percent in ad recall, but the other numbers suggest brands may prefer consumers forget their ads. Only 39 percent of respondents said they're happy to see advertising within Windows 8, and only 33 percent agreed that advertising on Windows 8 improved their opinion of a brand."

BuzzFeed is launching a social video studio and partnering with CNN on a new YouTube channel.

Amazon is hoping to extend its reach and integration beyond its own properties with yesterday's launch of Login with Amazon. The new service lets Amazon's 200+ million users to sign into websites, games and apps with their Amazon logins. Third-party developers can implement Login with Amazon on their web and mobile properties in the same way they integrate social logins like Facebook, Twitter and Google.

The social network is launching partner categories: some 500 "unique groups", with more to come, which are descriptors (one example: "buyers of children's cereals") that match up with relevant people among Facebook's 1 billion+ users. Facebook says that advertisers can "futher refine" the categories by using other targeting options it already offers.

the BilioTech will be an entirely new public space equipped with computers, e-readers and wifi access. Upon launch, the county hopes to have around 10,000 titles available to peruse on its devices. Personnel will still be on hand to help customers with their research and members will be able to take their e-books home with them by checking out e-readers.

The Big Issue In The North, a U.K. magazine sold by homeless street vendors to give them a steady income, is launching a digital edition, alongside its print edition. If a customer wants the digital version street vendors will sell them an access card with a QR code plus one-off access code on it which will enable them to download the edition to their smartphones or tablet.

Zeebox still hasn't launched in the US, but shortly after the London-based social TV company scored a large round of funding they're launching clickable TV ads across their platform. Their press release reads, "in a world first, UK users will be able to purchase products advertised on TV through their tablet or smartphone in real time." Zeebox seems to be one of the only major players in the UK giving them the opportunity to really build a great product in their market and then come to the US with a fine-tuned model and case studies. On the other hand, Shazam, Viggle and the other US social TV startups are working with brands to finally figure out how to make ads useful.

Now in it's 20th season, the network is launching "Dateline Chatline," a major social TV initiative aimed at merging "all viewer discussion surrounding Dateline into one easy-to-access, user-friendly online site."

"They say each generation is more digitally savvy than the next. As younger generations begin to produce TV for major networks, the social platforms they grew up with are beginning to become the focus of how they create content. ESPN has just launched its first major late night show on ESPNU called UNITE."

Hoping to tap into India's rapidly growing e-commerce market, Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) is launching Junglee.com in the country today. Junglee.com is not another "international Amazon" like Amazon.fr or Amazon.de. Rather, it is a marketplace that aims to connect buyers with online and offline retailers. The site offers 12 million products from 14,000 brands

Unilever launches a Lynx product for women on Facebook.

Hotels.com, in partnership with Columbus Internet, recently launched the first in-Facebook affiliate program through their joint app "Hotels WithMe." Facebook page owners can install the app and earn revenue when bookings are made through it. At this time the app is only available in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Sweden and Germany.

first UK brands that launched timeline

"We have been working on the launch of this new truck for three years," copywriter and senior partner Bjorn Engstrom told us.  "It's very hard to reach truck drivers. You don't know what they read." They have limited media exposure while they're driving. But one thing is for sure: they most certainly aren't pinning pictures of spare tires.

"AOL will launch an ad-supported streaming movies section next Tuesday, April 30th, initially featuring "tens of films" from Miramax, the studio behind breakout pictures including Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, and There Will Be Blood, among many others. The film selection will rotate on a monthly basis, and the initial movies haven't yet been announced. It's not clear how many ads will be shown, but AOL tells Variety that it "won't get too aggressive on monetization.""

Tumblr is launching its new mobile ad platform, which will allow brands to advertise their wares from within Tumblr's mobile apps. Tumblr's mobile ads will be clearly marked as sponsored and users will only see four of them per day.