The competition between MySpace and rival Facebook has been ongoing. MySpace claims a user-ship of 100 million users compared to the 500 million Facebook maintains. MySpace says the main component of the change is that the site is not content-focused rather than people-focused as it was in the past.

Personal profiles still are used on the site but the site now boasts the latest content updates on celebrities, TV shows, bands, and movies instead of updates from long-lost friends. The welcome page of the site will consistently update with the latest news. Logged in users will have information displayed the pertains to their specific preferences.

Users have the option to choose between three user homepages including the traditional, a grid view, and a player view. The traditional uses a list view for information. The grid view is similar to a magazine-style content provider. The player view is a new television-style format that places an emphasis on video.

MySpace has also partnered with entertainment partners including MTV, Access Hollywood, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Village Voice, and Just Jared celebrity blog. Resident ‘experts’ will be enlisted to provide information on certain topics in the entertainment industry and cultural trends.

MySpace has also instituted a reward program where users can earn badges for their social activities on the site. The reward system has been called ‘Reputation’. The company is also planning to release a web-based mobile version of the new site. It plans to release an app for the iPhone and Android later in the year.

Currently the site is still in beta version but will be made available to worldwide users effective at the end of November.

MySpace Revamps Site for Entertainment, Not Profiles was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Compared to last year, a prediction of a similar buying season is not good for retailers who went all out to produce some of the best shopping incentives ever during this time of year.  But, even so, it would be better than the drop of over 2 percent that they experienced last year.

While there are small signs that the economy has reached a bottom and may be on its way back up, it takes time for the effects to reach the wallets of consumers.

The Stumbling Blocks
The big three economic events continue to be a problem for consumers: lower credit availability, increased unemployment or underemployment, and higher foreclosures on homes.  Money is tight in almost every household and is going towards paying bills and down debt.

Retailer Adjustments
Most major retailers have adjusted inventory levels and lowered expenses so that they can ride out a rough holiday buying season.  What that means for consumers is that certain popular items might be hard to find for gift-giving.  Retailers are smart, though, and might have a few tricks up their sleeves that will help buyers get what they want.

Consumer Attitudes
Buyers this year might be more frugal than ever and cut back more than expected which could lead to last minute price cuts and sales in order to get registers ringing. 

The most important things on the minds of consumers when they go to shop for items are:

Price

This goes without saying, but the degree to which consumers are looking at price is higher than ever.  The bar was set low last year in the amount of discounting and shoppers will remember those prices and may react negatively if they cannot make purchases at or near those same levels.

Availability 

The worst case scenario is having a little bit of money, but not being able to get what you want.  Look for many alternative options for buyers of a particular item that is out-of-stock.

Quality 

 Quality still matters, but not as much.  Most people are relying on the reputation of manufacturers and their processes to make products that last.
Should all things remain the same, gasoline prices stay at their current levels and home heating prices remain unchanged, retailers should feel grateful.  It could be a lot worse

Will the Christmas Buying Season Be Better This Year? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.