How much is a single, glowing Facebook recommendation worth to a marketer? Just how valuable is a strong endorsement from a blogger in determining future sales? And just how engaged is the average TV viewer with a popular show with all these distracting networked gadgets, tablets and laptops in the room? Syncapse answers some of these questions in a new piece of research out this week.

The evolution of online video, you could say, took a step backwards last week with Warner Bros. stepping up as the first Hollywood studio to cut a Facebook distribution deal, streaming rentals of “The Dark Knight” for three bucks a pop. To some online video experts, it’s not the price tag, but the experience that has them grumbling. Batman fans are confined to viewing the entire film off-site, on Facebook.

For the 198,775 people who’ve declared their allegiance to the Microsoft Zune, these are troubling times. News reports are swirling that Microsoft will kill off the iPod-wannabe imminently. The only problem is Microsoft is denying the reports, but nobody’s listening. Yes, there’s a Zune metaphor in there somewhere.

Here’s one for climate skeptics: iconic Italian car maker Fiat has teamed up with travel e-tailer LastMinute.com to bring deals to Londoners to mark the Fiat 500 TwinAir’s break with London’s notoriously pricey congestion charge. When it comes to building a long-term community around a brand, perhaps nothing works better than giving people something for nothing and the chance to show it off to their friends. Here’s the strategy.

The shakeout of winners and losers has begun. Google’s now infamous search algorithm change last month is diverting eyeballs away from so-called content farms and middle-man publishers. Who gains? Big media, for one. And brands-turned-publisher, too.

If a big brand were to be cast in one of those bitchy teen movies, one set entirely in the world of Facebook, it would be that shunned, unloved character that walks barely noticed down the high school corridor. When it does get noticed he or she will no doubt get doused with a slushie. Why? Because. Teens can be pretty brutal.

Walk down the street of most any city or big town in the world and you’re likely to see a Subway sandwich shop. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reports the fast-food chain is now more ubiquitous than the golden arches of McDonald’s. Mickey D’s is still champ in revenues, and it’s no contest online either.

Last month we went in-depth looking at the trends, activities and passions driving the U.S. online market in 2010. Today, we look at Europe as comScore publishes its 2010 Europe Digital Year in Review. Like in the U.S., there were some big winners and losers.

It’s not sporty of us (or anyone) to pick on MySpace, but it’s worth putting its spectacular decline into perspective. And we do so here in a new chart that makes us wonder: will MySpace be around in another six months?

Last month we looked at growth trends for each of the big social media publishing channels, namely, Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Not all of you agreed with our conclusion: that blogging is an activity that, at best, is leveling off. At worst, it’s an activity in decline. The New York Times is now jumping on this discussion meme, declaring that today’s twentysomethings no longer blog, a further sign that fewer people can find the time.