ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Nine Inch Nails followed in Radiohead’s footsteps and launched their latest album, the 36-track instrumental “Ghosts I-IV,” as a free download (the first 9 tracks anyway.) The band also offers several pay options. For $5 you get all 36 digital tracks and a 40 page PDF; the $10 set comes with a two CDs and booklet; $75 buys you a data and Blu-ray DVD and the $300 “ultra-deluxe limited edition package” includes two numbered prints signed by Trent Renzor himself. Excessive traffic had crashed the site as of yesterday, but Amazon’s DRM free MP3 store has the $5 version.
The user interface is a bit easier to use than Radiohead’s and I like that specific options are offerered rather than the pay what you want offering. I went with the free download option receiving an e-mail in my inbox with a link to a download site and a zip file. Easy breezy.
Deal value in the U.S. media industry could reach record levels in 2008 if pending mega transactions like Microsoft’s bid for Yahoo are completed, says PriceWaterhouseCoopers in its annual report on media M&A activity. Online advertising will “remain an active arena.” (http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/03/03/media-mergers-deals-biz-media-cx_lh_0303mediamergers.html 3/3)
A trailer for Paramount’s long-awaited new Indian Jones movie racked up more than 200 million views worldwide during the first week of its release, the company told the AP. The studio built hype for the trailer by premiering it on Good Morning America and streaming it exclusively online at IndianaJones.com and Yahoo! Movies before showcasing it in theaters.
Michael Eisner’s Vuguru will debut its next big original web series, indie rock-themed mockumentary The All-For-Nots, next week simultaneously online, on mobile devices and on HDNet, reports The New York Times. Vuguru will make the series, sponsored by Chrysler and Expedia, available on outlets such as YouTube in the U.S., but it will restrict access to it in foreign markets to protect its syndication value.
Here’s some video I took when the All-For-Nots played the Mercury Lounge in NYC in December. Don’t hate. All I had on me was a digi cam and well, my hands shake. . .
Amazon launched a video widget program allowing Amazon Associates affiliates to earn referral fees for video views they accumulate on their websites. The site welcomes comedic, topical and how-to videos and provides 19 different templates to chose from, including a widget for its Unbox video service.
Yahoo’s onePlace is a new service from Yahoo! which allows you to dump bookmarks into dedicated folders where you can view and arrange them on the fly. The example they give is a trip: you add your flight info, the weather, your hotel, and some things you’d like to see. You can also drop in video, audio, and pictures and view it all from your WinMo or BlackBerry phone. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/yahoo-oneplace-mobile-content-collection 3/4)
Hollywood super producer Steven Spielberg is preparing to launch a new social network, we’ve heard from multiple sources. The focus will be on users who’ve had or who are interested in sharing paranormal and extraterrestrial experiences. The new social network may also have original video content investigating alleged ghost and UFO stories. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/steven-spielbergs-ghost-town 3/3)
DoubleClick, still awaiting EU approval in its merger with Google, is forming a vertical ad network called the DoubleClick Revenue Center to offer advertisers a more unified structure for their online ad buys. The move will place it in direct competition with companies such as Adify, which provides a technology platform enabling publishers such as NBC Universal and The Washington Post to build their own ad networks around specific categories.
Digg, the community-driven news site, plans to give individuals more control over how they view stories, shifting power away from its core loyal users. In an apparent move to boost traffic, Digg will let visitors pick which stories they want to read by setting alerts and making suggestions. (http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/03/04/Website-Digg-Makes-Changes 3/4)
(Below) That’s right people. Healthier, happier social life. Party of one! Yes, but what if someone takes away my right to blog. Blogging paralysis so to speak.
A new study has found Bloggers are better adjusted and live healthier, happier social lives.The research, from Swinburne University of Technology found that “people felt they had better social support and friendship networks than those who did not blog” after a two month blogging period when compared to people who do not blog. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/blogging-is-good-for-your-social-life-study 3/3)
Cinemax offers viewers the chance to pick their favorite movie death blow moment offering clips to watch before casting your vote.
Currently, 300 is the favorite and after watching that clip, I’d have to agree that crazy monster guy getting a knife to the face wins the prize.
Warner Music will allow 7digital.com to provide DRM-free MP3 downloads to customers in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, France and Germany. Already offering EMI’s music catalog, 7digital plans to add more labels. (Yahoo!/Reuters 3/3)
Google’s YouTube is facing criticism for making it too easy for people to upload violent or explicit adult content after a 25-year-old mother was filmed while being raped. Also: A video of a U.S. Marine throwing a puppy off a cliff in Iraq was viewed by 150,000 people on YouTube before it was removed. (http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3482663.ece 3/4, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3481977.ece 3/4)
So it took longer than originally planned, but Virgin Charter - the site where well-heeled travelers can find and book (expensive) charter flights - has officially opened its doors to the public after almost a year-long closed beta period. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online 3/3)
Six Apart just made designing a blog layout so easy that even a dummy like me can do it. On its TypePad service, it added a few more themes to bring the total up to: “100 themes, over 1000 professional designs, and an infinite number of customization possibilities.” (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/six-apart-introduces-blog-design-for-dummies 3/3)
NBC Universal will divide digital, research and marketing duties among three execs — Salil Mehta, Mike Pilot and Jeff Gaspin — after the departure of integrated media boss Beth Comstock, who is headed back to parent General Electric. Comstock will oversee digital initiatives for GE. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042008/business/nbcus_digital_divided_into_3_100385.htm 3/4)
