Sterling Market

Is Google going to buy Twitter, or not? That's what social networkers are tweeting, commenting and otherwise buzzing about this Friday.

Twitter is a service that lets users stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one question: What are you doing? It's a real-time messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices, including PCs and smartphones. And Facebook would reportedly love to add it to its social-networking services.

On Wednesday, Yahoo launched a new twist in search advertising -- video. Unlike traditional search results that show just text and links, Yahoo's Rich Ads in Search let marketers display banners and boxes with images and videos.

Yahoo, known for its strength in display advertising, is showing its muscle with this hybrid model that combines the best of sponsored search ads with videos.

According to Greg Sterling, principal analyst at Sterling Market Intelligence, Yahoo's Rich Ads in Search brings search and branding together in a potent way.

As part of a yearlong initiative to redesign and rethink the core functionality of its site, MySpace is launching a new user interface this week in hopes of making it easier for members to communicate with friends and family. But analysts say the major motivation may be as much about attracting advertising dollars as making navigation more user-friendly.