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Last month the debut of Grand Theft Auto IV was virtually guaranteed to influence gaming sales results and despite its late in the month release, with just a few days of sales, that’s exactly what it did.   Now another month has passed and a more detailed GTA IV sales picture is starting to appear along with the rest of the NPD North American retail numbers that were released this week.

For the month of May, GTA IV remained at the top of the gaming charts.   The Xbox 360 Version moved  871k units to finish in the top slot.  The PS3 installment finished fourth.  Cumulatively, across platforms, GTA IV moved 1.314million units.  That’s a sizable drop from April’s 2.85m total units but still an extremely high volume of sales; a number appropriate to its blockbuster status. 

The questions are: how will these numbers match up to projections?  Is GTA IV going to be the all time best seller? If so, by how much?  And perhaps even more importantly, were pre-sales forecasts that used Halo data spread from one to two platforms accurate?  

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Not that there was any doubt, but just in case anyone was thinking a relationship could be rekindled, Yahoo announced today that any discussions with Microsoft over merger, or other relationship, are done. Now both sides have said it… more than once.

Yahoo said in a press release that following numerous meetings, talks were “concluded.”  Microsoft was not interested in pursuing an acquisition for all of Yahoo and Yahoo’s board has determined that the sale of just their search business would not be in their best interests.

Microsoft affirmed the statement in a press release of their owning stating, “As stated on May 3rd and reiterated on May 18th Microsoft was not interested in rebidding for all of Yahoo!.  Our alternative transaction remains available for discussion.”

Moving forward, Yahoo will instead supplement income and try to boost their search business by working with Google.   In a separate announcement, it was confirmed that the two have reached a non-exclusive search deal that could be worth an extra $250 to $400m in cash flow.

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Over the past couple of years it has been a recurring headline, a come and go promise that’s never been fulfilled.  Now, the news may finally match the rumor.  Multiple reports are suggesting Bertelsmann, the German media giant, is close to selling its 50% stake in the world’s second largest music label (Sony BMG) back to co-owner Sony.

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Together with AOL, HBO tried to build a website around comedy video in February of 2007.  Like an awkward TV pilot that couldn’t find its groove, “This Just In” was shuttered by August.  Now, in a second go round, the Time Warner cable channel will play the part of investor.   HBO is committing an undisclosed amount of capital to buy a stake guessed to be about 10 percent of internet comedy shop FunnyorDie.

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Traditionally, end-user video and film distribution services (movie theaters, TV channels) competed with each other by geography or a unique programming schedule.  As a viewer you watched what was on local channels, or you tuned in to one place that was showing the programs you were itching to see.  The internet video world is a different animal but, still in its early stages, it remains something of an experimental lab; especially with regard to professional Hollywood content. 

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For a short while the headline was all set to read “Software Stuns, Hardware Stunningly Absent” but Apple saved the biggest (and most expected) news for last.  After spending an hour talking about software and services, Steve Jobs reassured an anxious audience of Apple fans and press with exactly the news they were anticipating: the birth if the second iPhone, iPhone 3G.

THE HARDWARE UPGRADES
The new iPhone will hit retailers July 11.  As widely expected, the phone was built to operate on faster third generation or 3G mobile networks (UMTS, HSDPA, GSM).  With this upgrade, the phone will be able to download data and Internet content at average rates of about three to five times faster than the first generation EDGE powered iPhone.   (And for those outside of a 3G area, the new phone is backwards compatible and will still support the intermediate speed EDGE service).

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The countdown time is under 24 hours now, right in about 22 hours and a few minutes.  When the clock hits zero, or a few minutes after 10am PST Monday, Steve Jobs will take the stage at Apple’s World Wide Developers conference to issue his keynote.  By most estimates, somewhere in that opening speech, somewhere woven in amidst all the product hyperbole and “go-team” cheer leading, he’ll also introduce the second generation of the iPhone.  At least, that’s the expectation that’s been brewing for months.

With the deadline looming, this week, the iPhone 2.0  buzz, rumors and speculation reached crescendo.  3G, GPS, smaller, bigger, two models or just one.  Theories were everywhere.

Across the blogosphere and in the major press, outside of the echo-chambers repeating what’s already said,  many have searched for the unique scoop; the chance to reveal the iPhone features (or whatever product announcement is ultimately coming) just ahead of the official news.   Apple’s managed to keep things mostly under wraps.

The only thing that is virtually certain is tomorrow Apple will announce a new product.  Thursday and Friday that was confirmed by reports detailing unusual shipping patterns through Apple’s distribution partners.

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