Jul 25
Apple is working on an anti-theft system for personal electronics such as the iPod that would allow users to set boobytraps for thieves that could render devices useless.
Source: Digg / Technology
Jul 25
MySpace had a great deal of success with their short form webisode, “Prom Queen”. The heavily hyped ode to teenage drama drew over 15 million streams during its run and is gearing up for another season. MySpace is looking to take the format to the streets, now soliciting film makers for their own shorts with a chance at earning some money. It’s part of a series of new ideas MySpace has been trying, which earlier this week included a user generated comic.
MySpace and the Producers Guild of America have launched a contest called “The Storyteller Challenge”. The contest will solicit 5-7 minute television pilots from film makers. The entires will be displayed on a dedicated MySpace community page beginning September 4th, 2007. The top two winning entries will each get $25,000 and an opportunity for a development deal with FOX. The top two entries will be picked based on a combination of user ratings and an expert panel from the producer’s guild. The finalists will be weeded out over the course of two rounds ending January 6th and January 25th of next year.
The winning videos could be featured on MySpace Film and MySpaceTV. According to ComScore, MySpace properties drive 39% of video streams.
The new program is similar to what the freshly relaunched Crackle is trying to do by dangling production deals in front of aspiring actors and directors. While most video sites have abdicated viral video to YouTube, professional content is still a booming market. Contests with the lure of fame and fortune are an efficient way to pull new talent from the crowds on the cheap. It’s a good time to be a film student.
Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.
Source: Nick Gonzalez
Jul 25
Target to only sell Blu-ray players in stores
sony, target, , format war, , bluray, BDP-S300 No Comments »
Filed under: HDTV
Everyone’s favorite wasteful format war took another strange twist today, with the AP reporting that Target will only stock Blu-ray players in its retail stores — specifically, Sony’s $499 BDP-S300. The decision, which Target and Sony are due to announce tomorrow, doesn’t include Target’s website, Xbox 360 HD DVD drive, or HD DVD movies, so it’s not a particularly huge win for Blu-ray, with even Target saying things like “We are not proclaiming one format vs. the other as the preferred consumer technology.” Still, coupled with Blockbuster’s decision to only stock Blu-ray discs, it looks like the format war might be fought and won at the retailer level, not by consumers.
[Thanks, Keith]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: Nilay Patel
Jul 25
AFP - Sony Corp.'s ailing video game division will be in focus Thursday as the electronics icon reports first-quarter results that analysts say are likely to show a chequered performance.
Source: BLOOMBERG NEWS
Jul 25
An ongoing investigation by the FBI into gambling in Second Life is believed to be directly related to Linden Lab’s sudden decision to ban all forms of gambling on Second Life.
The FBI investigation commenced in April and was considering the legality of online gambling within the virtual world. The US Government prohibits most forms of online gambling.
It was unclear at the time of writing whether the FBI would take the matter further, including the possible arrest of Linden Lab directors or the prosecution of individual users.
Casinos and gambling have been a prominent part of the Second Life metaverse over the last 2-3 years. Linden Lab will take a financial hit from the decision as casino owners cancel virtual land ownership agreements; top tier casinos contribute large sums in monthly fees to Linden Lab.
Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.
Source: Duncan Riley
Jul 25
Fast-growing social network site Facebook named former YouTube Chief Financial Officer Gideon Yu as its new C.F.O., replacing prior finance chief Michael Sheridan, in the latest step toward a potential I.P.O.
Source: REUTERS
Jul 25
AP - Think you’re smart at recognizing online scams? Take a quiz to find out.
Source: BLOOMBERG NEWS
Jul 25
AP - A presidential commission on Wednesday urged broad changes to veterans’ care that would boost benefits for family members helping the wounded, establish an easy-to-use Web site for medical records and overhaul the way disability pay is awarded.
Source: BLOOMBERG NEWS