Yes, we've seen something like this before from Google. And at first blush, YouTube Movies (which launched today) might look more like a direct threat to the Hollywood Video bargain VHS bin than to the Hulu and Netflix video syndication platforms.

But with a monetization plan already in place and a platform recently optimized for mobile, Google's foray into film may prove to be more gripping than Hulu Plus and the new Netflix iPhone app combined. After all, who else offers a suite of editing, publishing, advertising and rental services under the same roof?

In other words, YouTube now has the keys to the studio, the movie, the venue and the audience. That should be enough to make the competition — which may soon include Hollywood — do a double take.

Google bought Slide, a technology company that makes games, widgets and add-ons for social media sites. Slide is the largest third-party developer of Facebook applications, and is probably best known for the Super Poke function.

Google Engineering Director, David Glazer, stated that they, "don’t have any detailed product plans to share right now," but this certainly strengthens Google's social media presence. And the rumors that Google is starting their own social network, Google Me.

It also strengthen our previously stated hypothesis: Google Me will be a social network without a hub; a Facebook without a facebook.com. Essentially it will be a Like button that's tied to your Gmail account and/or Google Profile that third-party sites will add to their social jewelry section.

We've told you about gaming mechanics. We've told you about geolocation. We've even told you how some companies are starting to mix the two. All of that sets the stage for SCVNGR — a geolocation game app.

It's a pretty simple concept — think of the scavenger hunts of your youth, add a mobile device. In SCVNGR's own words, you play by:

1. Going places
2. Doing challenges
3. Earning points

The points can earn you online badges or real-world prizes. At this year's Comic-Con participants in the Dexter Game On SCVNGR hunt unlocked exclusive content from the new season of Dexter, were given access to a VIP "kill room" and won prizes and merchandise.

Bing has released its new iPhone app in time for the iOS4 update. Features include barcode-scanning, a new camera view system and, for your social life, the ability to log into Facebook and Twitter to make status updates and tweets.

The Facebook app "Are You Interested?" launched a poll asking how many folks let their lovers know "it's over" on Facebook. The survey of 1000 people (70% male/30% female) shows that there's a good amount breaking the bad news via social media. The results are below:

• Nearly 25% of respondents have found out their relationship was over by seeing it on Facebook first.
• Nearly 21% of respondents said they would break up with someone through Facebook by changing their status to single.
• Nearly 40% of respondents have updated their status on Facebook so the person they’re dating sees they have plans.
• Nearly 35% of respondents have used their Facebook status to make someone think they have plans, even if they don’t.

Yoox, a virtual boutique of multi-brand fashion and design, has been creating custom applications for social platforms and devices. They've used these apps to create a unique experience with a laser focus on their target demographic.

The Yoox Top 10 contest, in partnership with i-D magazine, on Facebook perfectly mirrors the aesthetic of the Yoox brand while taking full advantage of the Facebook platform.

The iPhone, Touch and iPad apps they have created gives users an exclusive and innovative shopping experience.

Cheers to Yoox and their partners for pushing the envelope and linking it all together.

One of the more interesting things in this interview with Twitpic founder Noah Everett is the growth of Twitter and Twitpic use by non-profits. Noah had this to say:

But the larger it’s grown, companies are getting on and now non-profits are. It’s a good way for non-profits to get out information about what they are doing right now. We’ve had UNICEF using TwitPic to display photos of people in the field doing their humanitarian work with a message below telling people what’s going on right now and what they’re needing for this campaign. It really helps spread the word about the needs they have, and get more people on board with their mission.

Addict-o-matic is pretty simple: Enter a topic in the search field and the app returns data for specific real-time platforms. The layout is very similar to iGoogle, and you can browse to see what people are saying about your brand or product on Wordpress, Twitter, Yahoo and everywhere else.

Gist is looking to make email more social. By tracking down the Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter profiles of other people copied on an email, as well as any blogs or news about them, Gist lets you make connections with those you might only know via CC.

By now it should be pretty clear the smart phones, mobile devices and wireless reading devices are changing where, when and how we use media. They're also starting to change fundamental things like how we read and what we expect a book to do and be. Alice for the iPad takes it to the next level.