Earlier today I hinted that Helio might be releasing some mind blowing new features in the coming weeks and lookie lookie what I found while tinkering with my Ocean. MySpace Mobile 2.0 has been released and it’s made the MySpace experience on a mobile so simple that even a monkey could use it. A stupid monkey!
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I realize this has nothing to do with the story, but Dada reminded me of the popular song by Trio

Sony BMG and Dada have joined forces to bring next-generation Web and mobile entertainment services that combine a broad range of music content that includes ringtones, video ringers, games, images, themes, full-length audio tracks and video. Previous offerings by Sony BMG and Dada will act as a platform to users where they will build a one-stop-shopping-like social network that includes popular features already showcased at Flickr, YouTube, eHarmony, CrunchGear, and MySpace with user-generated content. All in the palm of your hand. I’m shivering in anticipation. Oh wait, that’s just the AC. Nevermind.

RCS’s Dada, Sony BMG set up joint venture to supply entertainment service [forbes.com]

We were the first to tell you about the upgrade to Helio UP last week and now we have a few more ‘official’ deets for all the Helio subscribers. YouTube Mobile is now free for Helio All-In members. It took some bitching and moaning from customers, but it happened. Of course data charges still apply for A La Carte memberships. You can’t win ‘em all. Besides, you’re getting YouTube for FREE! As you already know, your video and photo content can be synced with YouTube and Flickr, but you have no idea how easy it is. Once your Helio UP account is linked to your YouTube and Flickr accounts everything you snap or vid automatically get posted. It’s so easy, right? It gets even better because in the next few months a YouTube dedicated application will be launched with features that you can only find on Helio. That’s saucy. Don’t go anywhere. I’m not done, yet.

MySpace Mobile 2 has also been launched, which is a dedicated application you’ll only find on Helio because T-Mobile is a few years behind the game. MM 2.0 is exactly what party animals like Lindsay Lohan need when they’re slutting gallivanting around LA. When they take pictures of themselves wielding knives, skiing, and whatever else it is that spoiled brats do then they can post those pics immediately via a MySpace bulletin without the hassle of hosting the picture somewhere else. Oh, Helio, I’m falling pretty hard for you.

According to the “New York Times,” MySpace is set to rename and relaunch its Flash-based video-sharing service as a stand-alone Web site, MySpaceTV.com. This will be accessible to everyone including people who do not have MySpace accounts. MySpace TV will be less centered on user-generated content — unlike YouTube — and will focus more on the material it has acquired from Sony and other major companies.The creation of MySpace TV was not an unexpected move and was speculated on as far back as a year ago. YouTube has also recently begun to compete with MySpace by developing social-networking features.

MySpace TV will launch on Thursday and with YouTube’s U.S. viewers only slightly outnumbering those of MySpace’s current video pseudo-site, it looks like it will be a strong competitor.

MySpace, Chasing YouTube, Upgrades Its Offerings [via TechCrunch]

Well this is big. Apparently, Yahoo! has discussed buying MySpace from News Corp in a bid to save itself from irrelevance. In return, News Corp. would get 30 percent of the newly combined Yahoo!+MySpace. Or, in dollar amounts, News Corp would cash in to the tune of $11.1 billion. Considering Murdoch and Co. bought MySpace for $650 million, I’d say that’s a deal and a half. Too bad Yahoo!’s recent restructuring puts the deal, if there ever really was one, in jeopardy.

But you know what? A lot of us here think that buying Facebook is the better move for Yahoo! Let’s admit it: MySpace simply isn’t what it was two years ago and all the momentum in the world appears to be behind Facebook. Its community is just what advertisers love—kids with cash to burn—and the site isn’t a disaster to read like MySpace can be.

News Corp explores swap of MySpace site for Yahoo! stake [TimesOnline]

Talk about two years too late, but better late than never I suppose. T-Mobile Sidekick 3 and Sidekick ID users will finally have access to their spammed out MySpace accounts with a dedicated application. Users will be able to send messages, add friends, view profiles (wonder if all that custom CSS will show up), and more. Custom alerts and notifications will be available so you can find out when your 46-year-old buddy from Texas is messaging you.

Looks like a decent application, though it’s long overdue for Sidekick users. Apparently, it’ll also be included on the upcoming Sidekick Zante. Groovy man. It’s a shame MySpace has become overrun with spam and usage is down. A mobile Facebook application however…

Sidekick to get MySpace application [BGR]

Yeah yeah this is crazy son. It’s a walkthrough son of the Helio Ocean word one featuring Fat Joe, B. It’s incredible because you can watch videos on it, to say nothing of its ring tones. It’s straight fire.

Which review is hotter, Fat Joe’s or Fat John’s? One.

Helio Ocean walk through with Fat Joe [The Boy Genius Report]

In an effort to “save bandwith”, the Department of Defense is blocking access to pipe-hogs like YouTube and MySpace on official computers. Lots of employers put up such filters, but this is different:

Troops and families living on U.S. bases will still be able to view the sites through private Internet networks, but the move leaves service members in Iraq and Afghanistan who use the popular picture- and video-sharing sites with little or no access to them.

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MySpace is launching a news service, using a very Digg-like voting format. While it works for sites like Digg, we have a feeling that the front page of news.myspace.com will be nothing more than reports of how “OMG Staci is SUCH a b1tch!!!1!”

It’s beta for now (like the rest of the Internets), but reports are saying it should launch sometime today. The real question is will people use it? We don’t think so. Sure, it’s owned by a company called News Corp, but it’s also moderated and populated largely by people on their first set of downy-soft pubes.

Those on Helio or Cingular will be able to sign up for news alerts for their mobile phones, meaning the next time Britney does something goofy, you’ll be the first to know. You can also add feeds or subjects to your MySpace page. Cool, I guess. What’s interesting is the initiative: Could this be an indication of MySpace trying to forge it’s own replacement for the Web? We think so.

MySpace News (beta) [news.myspace.com]

A big shocker from the NYT over this weekend. Did you know that your teenager could be actively engaging in selling electronic goods via Craigslist? That’s right. Your son or daughter could be selling those gadgets you got him for Christmas or Hanukah last year for top dollar. The Times goes on to point out the epic story of one Greg Stoft, an 18-year old who wanted a $45 skateboard. As the only unemployed 18-year old in the city of Fremont, CA he decided to sell his old 4GB iPod Nano on Craigslist for money to buy the skateboard with. He put an ad up on Craigslist, sold it for $70, and considered it a win.

Still with us? I know: exciting stuff, right?
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The next time you decide to plot the kidnapping of your neighbor’s kid for beer money, you may want to re-think what you’re doing: MySpace is now equipped to send out AMBER alerts for missing children. With increased pressure from activist groups and concerned parents, MySpace has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children so that whenever a critical child abduction case has occurred, an AMBER alert bulletin will appear on the site.

And let’s face it, after enjoying TO CATCH A PREDATOR about 20 times over, there’s obviously a need for this. Kudos to you, MySpace, for making progress towards the greater good.

MySpace to send US users missing children alerts [Reuters]

Peace Helio users! Catch ya later! Looks like you’re no longer the only wireless provider with a MySpace deal. Cingular Wireless and MySpace have teamed up letting its wireless customers access their profiles on the social-networking site while on the go. You and your 15-year-old punk girlfriend with pink highlights can check your profile, make comments, upload pictures from your phone and do all the things that make MySpace so entertaining.

Oh but wait. You thought this was going to be free didn’t you? A nice gesture from Cingular that helps out the younger demographic, right? Don’t think so. Be prepared to shell out $3 monthly for a mobile MySpace application for your cellphone. And don’t think it stops there. You know damn well they’ll be pushing phones to you now that are “MySpace compatible.”

Cingular to offer MySpace on cellphones [Yahoo! News]

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Auction page [eBay]