Top 5 headlines, for your 5 minute coffee break...

In at 1

Woolworths to re-launch online.
It was announced on 3rd January that Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay's Shop Direct Group have purchased Woolworths for an undisclosed sum, and plan to re-launch the brand online only.

The administration of the company back in November resulted in more than 30,000 job losses and 800 shops closures during December and January.

Shop Direct Group is the UK's biggest Internet and home shopping retailer, and includes well-known brands such as Littlewoods, Kays and Marshall Ward.

The details on what exactly the new Woolworths site will be offering have not yet been revealed, but should be over the next few months. It has been said that the plan is to launch the new website by Summer 2009

Mark Newton-Jones of Shop Direct says “."This is great news and we are confident that Woolworths, as an online brand, will once again prosper and quite rightly stay at the heart of British retailing,

It would have been a tragedy should the name have disappeared. It is an iconic name."

In at 2

Microsoft announces 5000 layoffs.
Shortly after the news from Google, Microsoft made an official announcement of their plans to lay off 5000 members of staff over the next 18 months, with 1400 being laid off immediately.

The press release by Microsoft announced
“In light of the further deterioration of global economic conditions, Microsoft announced additional steps to manage costs, including the reduction of headcount-related expenses, vendors and contingent staff, facilities, capital expenditures and marketing. As part of this plan, Microsoft will eliminate up to 5,000 jobs in R&D, marketing, sales, finance, legal, HR, and IT over the next 18 months, including 1,400 jobs today. These initiatives will reduce the company’s annual operating expense run rate by approximately $1.5 billion and reduce fiscal year 2009 capital expenditures by $700 million.”

You can view the full press release here:

In at 3

Twitter Continues to Grow:
In the week ending February 7th 2009, Hitwise ranked Twitter in 91st place in the popularity stakes ahead of Easyjet, Expedia and Gumtree.

It has also become the 7th most popular social networking site in the UK. Recently moving up from 23rd.

Robin Goad, research director of Hitwise says that part of Twitters success has been achieved by the increasing numbers of websites and services made available to users such as Twitpic. Twitpic allows users to upload images and Photos to there profiles.

He goes on to say "Twitpic is still small in comparison to Flickr and Photobucket, but is growing rapidly”

In at 4

Channel 4 Relaunch Their Online TV Service:
Following the demise of Kangaroo, Channel 4 are planning to relaunch there Online TV service in March.

The Catch Up service will compliment Channel 4s current 4OD service and will allow viewers to watch Channel 4 programmes from the last 30 days free of charge.

Using Flash technology, viewers will be able to view the programmes within the site rather than launching as a pop up player. This technology will finally allow Apple Mac users to access the service.

Andy Pipes, product development manager for Channel 4 says "Visitors will be able to watch full-length episodes directly in the page.
This is a departure from our current pop-out experience, and should ensure that all the information around a programme is available in one place, where the user is watching the episode."

In at 5

Google to help UK Economic Crisis
Conservative Party leader David Cameron has enlisted the help of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt to help solve Britain's Economic crisis.

Cameron announced on February 10th 2009 the formation of an economic recovery committee (including Schmidt) that will help formulate proposals “for the long term reconstruction of Britain's economy”.

The committee will meet on a fortnightly basis, but as the majority of members are from London or the UK. It does seem like it would be difficult for Scmidt to have a huge impact on the UK economy.

News Source - IAB, NMA, Microsoft