GM Doesn’t Like Old Media, Either

Earlier this week, the car maker said it was bailing out of Facebook. Today, it’s the Super Bowl.
pt cruiser

$$FB$$ Has Arrived: So Now What?

Relationship Status: Public.
facebook_nasdaq

Facebook Is Still Figuring It Out. Will Advertisers and Investors Wait Around?

“Advertisers are learning and experimenting” with Facebook’s ad business, says Facebook itself. GM’s move shows the downside of making it up as you go.
hatch

Zipcar Leads Funding for Wheelz — a P2P Version of Itself

Wheelz, a college campus-based service that matches car owners with borrowers, has raised $13.7 million in Series A funding. What’s particularly interesting is the lead investor: Zipcar.
Wheelz CEO Jeff Miller

Here Are Some More Yahoo CEO Choices: Liddell, Rosenblatt, Desmond

Let’s throw a few more names on the fire!
ceo_barbie

Voices

Car Makers Hope to Attract Those Who Won’t Ever Buy

Several auto makers, anxious that a growing number of consumers would rather borrow cars than own them, are wading into the nascent car sharing business alongside a flock of start-ups.

Zynga Makes Another Acquisition–Dallas's Bonfire Studios

Zynga announced another small acquisition today, as it continues to vacuum up small independent online game developers across the U.S. and internationally. This time it’s Dallas-based Bonfire Studios, which the San Francisco-based social gaming start-up said would now be called Zynga Dallas.

News Byte

Status Update: Getting Funny Looks Because I'm Talking to My Car

In the race to bring more voice tech to vehicles, Ford may have pulled ahead with its Microsoft-based Sync system, but it looks like GM is ready to make a run with a rebuilt OnStar. Bloomberg says the venerable in-car communication service may start offering some free features next year, reportedly including voice-to-text ability that would, among other things, let drivers update their Facebook pages as they jockey for the best lane on the freeway. Luckily, OnStar already includes accident assistance.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally Live at D8

Ford CEO Alan Mulally has come to D8 to take the hot seat, a position he should be used to after steering Ford through the recent financial crisis. Ford recently released SYNC, a voice-activation package on some models that integrates the content and functionality of mobile devices with the car itself. SYNC also adds apps to the car, though it’s not clear what these features will mean for the future of American automakers.
Alan Mulally

Voices

GM Demystifies "What Is 230?" Viral Campaign

General Motors pulled the curtain back on a cryptic marketing campaign, saying Tuesday that its new Chevrolet Volt would get at least 230 miles per gallon when it goes into production next year.