Filed under: MISC
PARKOUR: l’ART DU DISPLACEMENT
Think of The Matrix but then imagine someone really pulling off those moves. That’s parkour.
Taking this art of movement one step further, a film has been developed (to premiere in London Nov 10th) to showcase these movements. The film captures movement by wrapping the traceurs in motion-capture sensor suits. To be honest, I can’t quite figure out what’s happening in the video (below). . .but I don’t care. I know it’s cool.
I’m going to go attempt something SICK in the elevator. . .and some how Eminem will start playing on cue.
(http://www.wired.com/culture/art/magazine/15-11/pl_arts 10/23)
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
BROADCAST/CABLE
Advertisers have already snapped up almost all the commercial spots for next year’s Super Bowl, airing Feb. 3 on Fox. Media buyers say the ad-skipping epidemic has caused marketers to place a bigger emphasis on big television events that consumers tend to watch live. (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119378197706776800.html 10/31)
Hollywood’s television and film writers are expected to offer a package of proposals to their studio bosses in a bid to avert a looming strike. With their contract set to expire at midnight Wednesday, however, the two sides remain at odds over many major issues, including Internet pay. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/10312007/business/writers_bloc.htm 10/31)
ABC ordered a full-season pickup of the comedy Samantha Who? and will move ahead with the remaining back nine episodes. Samantha Who?, starring Christina Applegate, joins two other ABC dramas Private Practice and Pushing Daisies which have also received full-season pickups.
TBS made the most of its rookie season covering Major League Baseball post-season play. The network earned first-place honors for October in prime time, with 3.1 million average viewers and a 123% bump in total viewers for the month. (Variety 10/30)
Michael Willner, CEO of Insight, will testify today before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet that small cable companies should be exempt from digital must-carry rules, according to a prepared text of his remarks. Willner will say that small cable firms “should not be forced to use their limited capacity for dual carriage when rural and smaller market customers are demanding advanced services, like faster broadband and digital telephone.” (Multichannel News 10/30)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
ONLINE/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Social broadcasting provider NowLive is doing its thing live from the Digital Hollywood conference this week to showcase its platform. Ester Goldberg (aka Michael Arrington) will host his popular That’s Estertainment podcast live from the show at 9 am PST all week, guest starring fellow NowLiver Adrianne Curry.
Google’s stock price barreled through $700 for the first time Wednesday, propelled by a belief that the Internet search leader will become even more profitable as it plans new products and services. Google is now worth more than Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_hi_te/google_stock 10/31)
MTV Networks Virtual Worlds and Metacafe are hosting a Virtual Music Video Contest calling on aspiring directors to create their own music videos. Users can utilize up-and-coming bands’ audio tracks, video clips and online editing tools found on MTV’s Virtual World Channel on Metacafe. Submissions will be ranked by users initially, then a panel of MTV judges will choose the winner among the top 10 finalists.
AOL chief Randy Ralco turned serious while being honored at the annual luncheon/roast held by the Center for Communication. “AOL is worth fighting for,” he says, “and me and my AOL colleagues are gonna fight.” Also: AOL is making aggressive moves in international expansion. (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6495774.html 10/30)
(Below) This would be more helpful if the application was available to find through the Facebook application directory and not through an offline site.
Joost launched its P2P television player as a Facebook application. A plug in allows Facebook users view the most recent shows they have subscribed to directly from their profile page.
Current TV is sponsoring a contest with the Slamdance Film Festival inviting users to upload a short film about something relevant to them, their community or the world at large. Winning filmmakers will get their entries screened at the festival and will be given a chance to pitch Current TV ideas for a show.
CNN, YouTube and the Republican Party of Florida say the Republican debate will go forward after being delayed two months when candidates Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney balked at the format. The two candidates say they now plan to participate in the debate, set for Nov. 28. (http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=70027 10/30)
The House of Representatives voted unanimously to extend the ban on internet access taxes to 2014, two days before it was set to expire on Thursday. President Bush is expected to sign it into law quickly.
Pop star Prince asked YouTube to remove a clip of an infant boy dancing to his 1984 hit song “Let’s Go Crazy.” When the clip was pulled, the baby’s mother cried foul and filed a lawsuit seeking damages. The woman’s lawyers say the dancing-baby clip is “the poster child for fair use.” (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9807555-7.html 10/30)
RealNetworks reported record revenues of $145.1 million during Q3, a 55% increase compared to the same period in 2006. Alliances with MTV Networks and Verizon improved Real’s subscription Rhapsody music business, with music revenue reaching $37.7 million for the quarter.
Filed under: WIRELESS
WIRELESS
Google is said to be in talks with Verizon and Sprint about offering customized Google-powered mobile phones. Also: The Internet giant is opening OpenSocial, a hub for software developers who create tools for social-networking sites, aiming to dilute Facebook’s success in the area. (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119377870431576706.html 10/31)
NBC Universal is buying a stake in SMS startup 4INFO.net and will make it its text messaging partner for advertising-supported mobile messaging. In a separate deal, NBC is agreeing to sell advertising inventory for the video games of IGA Worldwide. (http://www.clickz.com/3627462 10/31)
Mobile operators continue to seek out new deals that would make music more accessible to its clientele. “We really like the unlimited subscription idea,” AT&T executive director of premium content Rob Hyatt said, but “it’s certainly not without its challenges.” (Yahoo!/Reuters/Billboard 10/28)
Filed under: GAMING
GAMING
Microsoft’s fall Xbox 360 update will not feature the addition of IPTV functionality, although the company remains dedicated to introducing the feature at a later date. Microsoft had previously stated that IPTV would debut during the holiday season. (CNET/Gamespot 10/30)
Upcoming games from Sony and Creative Edge Studios use new technologies to capture the emotions and expressions of real actors. Sony’s “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune” (due Nov. 20) used motion-capture technology to create more lifelike animated characters. Creative Edge’s “Warriors of Elysia” (2008) takes things a step further and uses actual filmed images of actors placed into 3-D environments. (GameDaily BIZ 10/30)
Filed under: TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
Almost 14% of U.S. television households have a high-definition TV, with Los Angeles and New York showing the greatest use, according to Nielsen. Los Angeles has the highest penetration of TVs at 20%, while New York has the most receiving at least one HD channel at 18%. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aQZ.iP90HUaI 10/30)
Eye-Fi’s a 2GB SD memory card that connects to your wireless network to bypass the m,ost intricate and taxing step of high-level photography: finding a cable and plugging in your camera. (http://www.thrillist.com/archives/2007/10/eyefi_nation_gadgets.html 10/31)
Filed under: MISC
VERIZON DOWN WITH THE G PHONE?
Gphone buzz has been building since before the iPhone was released in June. The question originally: Would Google choose to offer the phone with built-in Google operating system on its own becoming a service provider or through an existing service provider? Most recent news suggests Google is leaning towards the latter. At least, to start.
Google is currently in conversations with Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest US telephone company, to distribute phones customized with Google operating systems. Keep in mind; Google also plans to bid on wireless spectrum to be offered at a U.S. federal auction.
Google is in serious discussions with Verizon Wireless over a partnership in which Verizon would carry cellphones tailored to a new Google operating system, a person familiar with the discussions said. Speculation about Google’s mobile strategy have helped shares of the Internet giant surge near $700. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119377870431576706.html?mod=djemalert 10/30)
