It’s difficult to rein in skepticism when faced with a new search engine, but the mysterious Volunia tempers that by having an interesting pedigree. It was developed by Massimo Marchiori, who among other achievements created HyperSearch, the precursor to Google’s PageRank.

Singing telegrams have gone digital and gained star power. The Western Union Co. today unveiled the beta of Western Union Singing Telegram, a new interactive online platform that allows consumers to create a personalized music video and virtual duet that shows them alongside the likes of K’naan, Snoop Dogg, Sunidhi Chauhan and Timbaland.

Spider-Man, who already stars in comics, movies, tv shows, games, a live Broadway musical and undoubtedly in other media, is now being introduced to a new generation of fans through an interactive storybook app narrated by none other than Spidey’s co-creator, Stan Lee. “The Amazing Spider-Man: An Origin Story” is the latest release from Disney Publishing’s Marvel Origins Series.

Live Verizon FiOS TV is the latest provider to supply content for viewing through an Xbox 360. What’s initially on offer doesn’t seem to be particularly compelling, but at least it’s a further step toward consumer control over their entertainment options.

Tom Cosgrove, president and chief executive officer of 3net, unveiled the online presence today for the Sony, Discovery and IMAX joint venture that delivers 3D content to home viewers around the clock.

Microsoft Surface is finally coming to the United States, Canada and 21 other countries, according to news announced today by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. The display, which can recognize and handle up to 50 points of simultaneous touch, including fingers, hands and objects placed on the screen, is set to be deployed in early 2012 by customers including Dassault Aviation, Fujifilm Corp. and Royal Bank of Canada.

Boxee, the platform that lets consumers watch Internet content on just about any home screen, is releasing a little gizmo that adds over-the-air broadcast TV channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC to its mix of online movies, television shows and other entertainment.

THQ’s "Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat," a game played using the uDraw GameTablet, went on sale Tuesday and is leveraging the strength of the Marvel Super Heroes intellectual property in a cross-promotion with Gazillion Entertainment’s kid-friendly MMO "Marvel Super Hero Squad Online."

Musician/producer/artist Dave Stewart has collaborated with branding expert Mark Simmons on an iPad app designed to help entrepreneurs come up with innovative ideas. Named "Creativity", it includes a foreword by Virgin founder Richard Branson, interviews with Mick Jagger and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, an interactive package of techniques and tools.