Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA | Tags: 216, Crackle.com, Facebook, Jonathan Shambroom, New York Times, Sony, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Television
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Netflix and TiVo will begin a partnership in December that will enable viewers to watch Netflix’s Web-based “Watch Instantly” TV episodes and movies via their TiVo set-top boxes. The collaboration is seen as a big advancement in the video industry’s drive to offer online TV and movie content on regular TV sets. The New York Times (10/30) , The Washington Post/The Associated Press (10/30)
Facebook blew past MySpace in visitors from across the world back in April, but the global gap continues to widen. According to the latest figures from comScore, Facebook attracted 161.1 million unique visitors worldwide in September, compared 117.9 million for MySpace. For Facebook, that number was up from 4.7 percent from the 153.9 million people who visited the social network in August. Visitors to MySpace declined 1.6 percent globally from 119.8 million. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/29/facebook-widens-the-gap-with-myspace-internationally 10/29)
Sony Pictures Entertainment is installing new management, opening a new headquarters and preparing to commit a range of new full-length Sony TV shows and movies to Crackle.com reports THR. Eric Berger, who oversaw mobile entertainment at Sony, will take over at Crackle replacing Jonathan Shambroom, who has overseen the site since February. The site plans to premiere as many as five 13-episode original series each quarter beginning early next year with Angel of Death from comic-book artist Ed Brubaker. (Cynopsis 10/30)
Turner Sports-managed NBA.com launched the NBA League Broadband service offering access to up to 40 live games per week, the first time NBA games have been available online. Bells and whistles include a mosaic video player allowing fans to watch and track up to 3 games at once. The service is currently available for the early bird price of $169 for the season. Subscribers to the TV version get the broadband service for free. (Cynopsis 10/30)
Meanwhile the NHL is offering free access to its Game Center Live service today to drum up interest. A full season of hockey games also costs $169. (Cynopsis 10/30)
Comcast’s Fancast.com launched a new weekly blog called “Ask Judah,” featuring 30 Rock co-star Judah Friedlander fielding questions from users on any and all topics. His blog will run on Thursdays and Fridays to promote both linear and online viewing of 30 Rock. (Cynopsis 10/30)
Last month AOL began releasing parts of its new tear-down-the-walls home page strategy, allowing users to view email from Yahoo and Gmail. Today they launch the rest of the new features. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/30/the-walls-come-down-on-aolcom 10/30)
Retailer Hot Topic, Inc launched ShockHound a music-based site offering MP3s, band merchandise, music videos and editorial content allowing indie artists upload and sell their work. (Cynopsis 10/30)
Zazzle
, the site that lets you custom-design and sell everything from T-shirts and hoodies to sneakers and skateboards, has launched a new feature that may well put it leagues ahead of its competitors: embroidery. And while the prospect of having an embroidered shirt may not sound appealing at first (I’ve always associated embroidery with tacky nametags emblazoned on polo shirts), Zazzle’s new feature is very impressive and will likely draw a large number of new customers. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/30/zazzle-launches-custom-embroidered-clothing-who-knew-stitching-could-be-this-cool 10/30)
MSNBC‘s newest politico Rachel Maddow has got her own site now featuring full podcasts of her nightly show and a customizable interface allowing users to create embeddable playlists of their favorite clips. Viewers can also interact with Rachel using msnbc.com’s own social media news site Newsvine or via Twitter. (Cynopsis 10/30)
The growth rate of online video ad spending will peak at 78.9% in 2012 when both traditional and alternative media companies will be distributing far more professional-quality video content online, and when the national elections and the summer Olympics will contribute far more to video ad spending than they did in 2008, according to eMarketer projections. (Cynopsis 10/30)
U.S. Online Video Advertising Spending Growth, 2008-2013
Year % change
2008 55.9%
2009 48.5%
2010 53.3%
2011 65.2%
2012 78.9%
2013 70.6%
Source: eMarketer
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Filed under: WIRELESS | Tags: Android, Apple, Google, iPhone, Mobile phone, Spore Origins, Wall Street Journal, Wi-Fi
After months of giving and taking back free Wi-Fi to iPhone users, AT&T announced that all BlackBerry users will be privy to the “nation’s largest Wi-Fi network” if you have an unlimited data plan. Other Wi-Fi-enabled devices will receive the same treatment in the future. (http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/10/30/att-plays-nice-gives-blackberry-users-free-wi-fi-too 10/30)
Google’s Android mobile OS is slowly but surely accumulating some interesting apps. Electronic Arts unveiled three classic games for the platform yesterday including Tetris, available now, followed by the popular Bejeweled and Monopoly Here & Now coming in Nov. EA has developed a number of hit games for the iPhone including Scrabble and Spore Origins. (Cynopsis 10/30)
To save money, an increasing number of lower-income families are using their iPhones in place of other music devices and a traditional broadband connection, according to a new study from comScore, a media-measurement firm. ComScore said iPhone sales to homes earning less than the median income had soared since Apple introduced its 3G upgrade in July. The Wall Street Journal (10/30)
Cell phone users, by and large, see their handsets as vehicles to only talk and send text messages, not as multimedia devices capable of sending e-mail, watching videos and playing games, according to findings released recently by Accenture, which conducted the study in December 2007. But Accenture analysts predicted that mobile content and advanced services will gain more traction as cell phone companies begin to focus more on the consumer market rather than catering mainly to enterprise users. eMarketer (10/27)
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Filed under: GAMING | Tags: Games, MTV, New York Times, Nintendo, Rock Band, Video game, Wall Street Journal, Wii
“Rock Band,” the music-oriented video game owned by Viacom‘s MTV Networks, reportedly has won the rights to include Beatles songs in its play-along lineup for would-be musicians, according to people close to the deal. The lads from Liverpool join acts such as Aerosmith, Metallica and AC/DC in licensing their songs to “Rock Band.” The Wall Street Journal (10/30) , The New York Times (10/29)
Buoyed by strong sales of its DS and Wii game platforms, Nintendo reported that operating profit during the most recent quarter was 36% higher than the comparable period a year earlier. But with the international economic slowdown still threatening earnings, the Japanese firm pared back its full-year profit forecast about 3%. During the past six months, Nintendo reported Wii console and DS sales in the Americas of 4.6 million and 5.2 million, respectively. Reuters (10/30) , PCWorld/IDG News Service (10/30)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, Hewlett-Packard Company, Laptop, Netbook, VerizonWireless, Wall Street, WIRELESS
TECHNOLOGY
Borrowing a page from the playbooks of European and Asian computer makers, Hewlett-Packard is considering a strategy that would involve selling bare-bones “netbook” laptops at a discount if buyers also buy a wireless-service contract. HP’s Kevin Frost, who oversees the company’s notebook business division, mentioned Verizon Wireless and AT&T as potential partners in the venture. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires(10/30) , Reuters (10/29)
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Filed under: MISC | Tags: Don Cheadle, IronMan, Jon Favreau, Marvel Studios, Robert Downey, Terrence Howard, Tony Stark, War Machine
Robert Downey Jr. inked a four-film deal with Marvel Studios. The deal includes the first Iron Man movie as well as reprising his Tony Stark character for Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3. The fourth titles is in addition to The Avengers about a team of superheroes including Iron Man, Captain American, Hulk, Wasp, Giant Man, Hawkeye and Thor. The Avengers, slated for release in 2011, also brings in director Jon Favreau from Iron Man and Iron Man 2 as executive producer. Don Cheadle will also appear in The Avengers as Stark’s best friend, Jim Rhodes aka War Machine. (Cynopsis 10/30)
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Filed under: Feature | Tags: Apple, Digital Genesis, Hyundai Genesis, iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, Mac, MacBook Air, Macintosh, RIDES, Rides Magazine, SEMA, T-Pain
GOT WI-FI?: YOUR WHEELS DO
A friend over at RIDES Magazine just sent me one of the coolest things that I’ve seen in a loooong while. Now, if you’ve been paying attention, you know that we usually review coffee shops in the Got Wi-Fi? series with the Bolt Bus thrown in for extra flavor. RIDES magazine has gone and created the ultimate in wi-fi hot spots, one with a steering wheel and 22″ MHT three-piece wheels.
The Challenge
In preparation for next week’s SEMA in Las Vegas, Hyundai threw the gates open for 6 mods; 3 coupes, 3 sedans. In short, teams were given the original car (see below) to add their own pimp-your-ride flavor. The cars have yet to be officially released to the public, but pictures are already aflutter on the internet. From what I’ve seen so far and given my general affection for all things digital, the RIDES Digital Genesis takes the win on cruise control. Yay puns!
Before
Above is a picture of the Hyundai Genesis in its original condition.
The Digital Genesis is Born
I can’t say that I’m the sort of girl who appreciates a super-charged engine, rims, blah blah blah, but I do surely appreciate a mobile wi-fi spot capable of supporting 30 simultaneous users up to 100ft away. This is the sort of ride I patrol parking lots looking for to pick up some free online juice for my iPhone.
The Digital Genesis sports an on-board Internet in Motion IIM2300V providing those in the car with an EVDO connection or for those playing at home, a mobile broadband connection. You may be more familiar with these types of connections of the sort the EDGE network provides to the iPhone and other smartphones. If this were a comparison to DSL and cable, EVDO would be cable what EDGE would be DSL (i.e. EVDO is faster).
Digital Genesis = Apple Love
Along with the mobile wi-fi connection, which is brilliance in itself, the car also packs in three Macs (including a MacBook Air and two Mac minis), an iPod Touch, an iPhone 3G, Farenheit DVD player, Genesis amps, Morel Hybrid Ovation speakers and two 12” subs. In essence, a whole lot of Apple love here folks. I suggested they drive this Apple-packed goodness over to MacWorld after SEMA.
The RIDES team removed the middle seat, installing a center control console to activate the car’s electronics and store your precious MacBook Air. That not enough for you? The back seats have been outfitted with flip-down tray tables with wireless Apple keyboards and 8.4 inch VGA monitors built-in to the headrests. There’s a 20” Apple Cinema display in the trunk (above) in case you want a little web-surfing with your tailgate.
This is the kind of ride you need a driver for. Take that Maybach. . .
Fancy Some T-Pain with Your Digital Genesis?
In honor of the Digital Genesis’ release, RIDES shows some respekt with a track from T-Pain’s new album Thr33 Ringz before it releases in stores on 11/11. Click on the image above, enter your e-mail address on the site and you can have yourself a T-Pain party at your desk.
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- RIDES Mac-powered Hyundai Genesis
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- A Hyundai Gets Pimped with Apples [Apple]
- A Hyundai Gets Pimped with Apples
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Barack Obama, Beverly Hills 90210, CBS Paramount Network Television, John McCain, Larry King, Melrose Place, Television, Universal Media Studios
The CW and CBS Paramount Network Television are developing a remake of the 1990s FOX hit Melrose Place. The storyline has not been hashed out and a writer is being sought. This news comes after the pair collaborated on the current 90210, a spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210 which also originally spawned Melrose Place. CBS Paramount owns the rights to Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place when it purchased Spelling TV. (Cynopsis 10/29)
With less than a week to go before the Nov. 4 presidential election, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz., will be heavying up on their cable schedules. Obama is scheduled to appear on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” tonight and on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” on Thursday, while McCain will have a sit-down tonight with Larry King on CNN. Multichannel News (10/28)
Universal Media Studios made a two-year exclusive first-look television development pact with Jennifer Lopez and her production company Nuyorican Productions, along with her producing partner Simon Fields. (Cynopsis 10/29)
Modern pirates. Japan’s robot invasion. America’s secret war – just a few of the stories tackled in the all-new season of Current TV’s “Vanguard,” which premiered last Wednesday, October 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. A new “Vanguard” report premieres each week on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Tonight, check out the premiere of The Great American Detour, an intimate look at America via bus tour across the country. In addition, the team will be including their twitter feeds on the site and conducting a live chat during the show.
In this election season, it’s a welcome departure to gather the opinions of our people, rather than our politicians.
Comcast announced today that it added 483,000 digital-phone customers, 417,000 digital-TV subscribers and 382,000 Internet customers during the third quarter. Overall, the company reported earnings of $771 million, a robust 38% increase, on revenue of $8.55 billion, a 10% bump. Reuters (10/29) , Google/The Associated Press (10/29) , OneTRAK (10/29) , BusinessWeek (10/28)
Disney-ABC Television Group signed a deal with Verizon to make primetime ABC shows such as Desperate Housewives and Lost available via FiOS TV’s video-on-demand service. The shows will be offered in HD for no charge one day after they premiere in the network with the ad-skipping feature disabled. ABC began testing its VOD service in Cox’s Orange County system last year. (Cynopsis 10/29)
Suddenlink Communications is working on an aggressive rollout schedule that will bring video-on-demand services to 23 of the company’s cable markets. The rollout began last month and relies on the Axiom On Demand content-delivery system from SeaChange International. Multichannel News (10/28)
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