Could this economy mean the end of some of the most well-regarded web companies such as Twitter, Meebo, Zillow and Pandora -- even Skype, Second Life or MySpace? Those are on Rafe Needleman's list of troubled web companies, entities that have plenty of fans but a questionable grasp on how they're supposed to make money. As Rafat Ali points out, a list like this is "a link bait if there ever was one," but point taken: Twitter may have millions of followers, but it's free -- and none of them are seeing any ads. [CNET, Paid Content]

Last week, Apple’s shares fell when two analysts downgraded the stock; this week, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told Rupert Neate that the downgrade was "correct" and furthermore, "investment houses’ over-valuation of web 2.0 and social networking websites could even lead to a minor version of the dotcom crash." At a certain point, the reporter couldn't quite believe in his good luck in finding such a forthcoming subject: "I begin to wonder whether [Wozniak] was even briefed by the Apple press office when he predicts the imminent death of the company's most popular product, the iPod." Wozniak compared the device to the transistor radio, noting, "Things like that... they kind of die after a while." [The Telegraph]

Moviecentric social network Flixster bought an iPhone appication, Movies.app, created by Carnegie Mellon University sophomore Jeffrey Grossman. Writes Michael Arrington, "The application lets users find show times, watch trailers and get maps to local theaters and has been downloaded 250,000 times. Flixster has updated the app to give users full access to their database of 70,000 movies, so users will be able to look up older titles." Flixster, which was very nearly acquired by Barry Diller's IAC last year, now has 6.5 million monthly visitors to its website and 13.6 million across its network. [TechCrunch]

Image Metrics has done facial animation work for more than a dozen films and videogames, including "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," "Grand Theft Auto" and "Meet Dave." However, this pitch video from the company may suggest their work has taken another step toward actor replacement. Or, as Steve Hall suggests, "this technology may cause anything remotely less than perfect to be dubbed absolutely unacceptable." [AdRants]

Intel Corp. and Yahoo are creating software that gives TVs the ability to display the internet (say, to check an actor's IMDb profile) without interfering with programming. TVs would need a set-top box to pull up online content. Comcast will begin testing services in the first half of next year. [Bloomberg]

Fortune
Former online toppers Jon Miller (AOL) and Ross Levinsohn (Fox Interactive Media) and their company, Velocity Interactive Group, has created a "virtual studio" with investments in Broadband Enterprises, Generate, and NextNewNetworks; they also funded MixerCast and Crowd Fusion. Writes Richard Siklos: "They're happy to help find and build the next great thing that their former employers will one day pay up for. Levinsohn says he likes meeting with twenty-somethings who need as little as $150,000 to launch. 'These kids haven't been beaten down by the corporate structure of anything,' he says. 'It's so refreshing.' "

Variety
The culprits include last-minute pilot reshoots, new series overhauls and the 100-day writers strike. Among the AWOL: NBC’s "My Own Worst Enemy," ABC’s "Life on Mars," the CW’s "90210" and CBS' "Eleventh Hour."
• Wired says the critics might try looking on file-sharing networks, where pilots began leaking in May.

Variety
It's called Mass Animation, which invites artists to collaborate via Facebook on a computer-animated short. Intel sponsors the Facebook page’s development and promotion, Autodesk provides a downloadable version via Maya Unlimited software, Reel FX will convert selected artists' contributions and Aniboom will manage the project's social aspects. Mass Animation is expected to launch in the fall.

CinemaTech
That's the observation of CinemaTech's Scott Kirsner. One reason may be the name: "Try Googling "The Line" and see what comes up. You get Johnny Cash and a lot of other stuff, but not this series. Now try Googling "Ask a Ninja" or "Homestar Runner" and see what happens. Those Web series are the first result."