Quick notes
New Sponsored Community: music_nation; looks like it will be running for 12 weeks. Unfortunately, the main site doesn't have OpenID for a login, so in order to really participate, I think LJers have to do a full blown registration. Pity--this would have been a great opportunity to use it. OpenID could allow LJers to participate in third party sites with a minimum of hassle, especially if LJ ever implemented an (optional) email SREG.
Ad Categories will be able to be selected by Basic users for the next release. A win for both sides, I believe.
It appears that the Gizmo Project was a sponsored feature more than a partnership deal, although the details are a bit sketchy, and it is now going away: "Gizmo sponsorship of LJ Talk is over, so we're removing the branding/integration of it with LJ Talk around the site." ljnewsmod on the_lj_herald seems to have acquired some clarifying information: "It seems that they're going to stop saying that it's their preferred client, stop displaying it prominently and stop systematically associating the words LJ Talk and Gizmo (so stop advertising it in a way). It'll still exist and it'll still be listed in the list of IM clients it and there'll still be a Gizmo for Project for LJ Talk page."
Ad Categories will be able to be selected by Basic users for the next release. A win for both sides, I believe.
It appears that the Gizmo Project was a sponsored feature more than a partnership deal, although the details are a bit sketchy, and it is now going away: "Gizmo sponsorship of LJ Talk is over, so we're removing the branding/integration of it with LJ Talk around the site." ljnewsmod on the_lj_herald seems to have acquired some clarifying information: "It seems that they're going to stop saying that it's their preferred client, stop displaying it prominently and stop systematically associating the words LJ Talk and Gizmo (so stop advertising it in a way). It'll still exist and it'll still be listed in the list of IM clients it and there'll still be a Gizmo for Project for LJ Talk page."