Friday, April 30, 2010

Apple shuts down music download site LaLa.com

LOS ANGELES – Apple is shutting down Lala.com, the online music retailer it bought last year. The move comes amid speculation that Apple will soon offer a way for people to access songs from distant computers.

A message posted on Lala's home page late Thursday says the service isn't accepting new users and will shut down at the end of May.

Some executives in the online music industry suspect Apple is working on letting its iTunes customers buy and listen to songs in a way that doesn't require downloads. Instead users would access music stored on servers through cell phone networks.

Such so-called "cloud music" services have gotten a boost from recent price cuts and applications that allow playback even outside of cell-phone coverage.

Apple declined to comment Friday on its future plans.

Is this a smart move for Apple? What do you guys think was the motive behind them shutting down this website: it was not as succesful as they anticipated when they purchased it or to focus more consumers to Itunes? I was not familiar with this web site until I found the article and others that i have talked to were not familiar with it either.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100430/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_apple_lala

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Phone Scam

I found this article: http://tinyurl.com/3dlo7w posted on the Department of Communications bulletin board.

This article informs clients and readers of scam calls from the 809 area code. The area code is a legitimate area code for the Dominican Republic. The long distance phone scam causes consumers to inadvertently acquire high charges on their phone bills. The scammed consumer receives a message telling them to call a phone number with an 809, 284, or 876 area code in order to collect a prize, find out information about a sick relative, etc. The caller assumes they are calling a typical three-digit U.S. area code, but they are actually connected to a phone number outside of the U.S. and they are charged international call rates. The consumer does not find out they have been charged high international call rates until they receive their bill. AT&T offers tips and information on what to do if you believe you've been scammed in the press release.

AT&T did make efforts to inform their clients and other readers of this phone scam. So many services compete with others; with this knowledge do you think AT&T could have done more to inform their clients (such as sending out a free text message to their clients)? Do you think their informational press release affects their consumer satisfaction, or do you even think they notice? Does this have the potential to affect customer loyalty for AT&T in the long run? Any other thoughts?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Your Phone is Locked. Just Drive.

I've always wondered when they were going to figure out a cool way to have "away messages" for your phone while driving...just something to inform people that THAT is what you're doing if/when you don't reply or answer. 

Well...apparently they have apps for that basic idea now. Its Phone Safety and they are definitely aiming it towards parents to get these apps for their teenager's phone. Of course, most basic phones do not have the capability for these apps, not even the iPhone...yet. BUT, the future may just hold that all new phones have this capability, or may even be required. What do you think? 

This article begins with this statement:

"The statistics on distracted driving are pretty scary. Just making cellphone calls increases your chances of crashing by four times; sending text messages increases the risk 23 times."

If this is true, that's awfully scary...considering most of the people I know, either call, text, or both while they drive....I mean, honestly, I do more than I should too.

So, this article talks about the few apps available and what they each do and how much they cost. They are all pretty creative and maybe, depending on the future, will be on every phone in the market. Technology will only get better, and the driving laws may just have to get stricter...

Do you think they will make texting illegal while driving? Do you think eventually all cell phones will have this ability to block messaging and calls while driving? Do you think one day we'll even have a choice? I compare it to drunk driving in some ways....I mean, if it gets that bad, I figure they will start looking for ways to prevent it. Who knows? 

Here's the article from the NYTIMES.com

"Your Phone is Locked. Just DRIVE."

Who are the 10 most powerful in TV news?

TV news has certainly made some changes in the past year, largely due to the economy and a push for media consolidation. In local news, people are working longer hours with less resources and less pay. Two out of the three large networks have made numerous layoffs, in an effort to keep profit up. With cable's growing viewership and the increasingly convenient online news sources, who are the people that are still making progress for the networks?

Number 1,
The Chairman and CEO of FOX News, Roger Ailes.
Number 2,
President of NBC News, Steve Capus; President of MSNBC, Phil Griffin; and
President of CNBC, Mark Hoffman.
Number 3,
President of CNN Worldwide, Jim Walton; President of CNN/U.S., Jon Klein; and Executive Vice President of CNN Worldwide, Ken Jautz- responsible for HLN
Number 4,
President of CBS News and CBS Sports, Sean McManus
Number 5,
Host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, Jon Stewart
Number 6,
President of ABC News, David Westin
Number 7,
Fox News Channel's host of the O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly; and host Glenn Beck
Number 8,
Barbara Walters and others on The View
Number 9,
N.S. Bienstock Agency
Number 10,
Christiane Amanpour from ABC News; and Candy Crowley from CNN

look at http://www.tvweek.com/news/2010/04/the_10_most_powerful_in_tv_new.php
to see how these powerful news people are working with and for their networks to keep up their ratings.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Parents Using Smartphones to Entertain Bored Kids

A recent story from CNN.com reported that more and more parents are handing their smartphones to their children to keep them entertained. The days of coloring books and action figures are over, but the need to keep children occupied certainly is not. People have always brought toys, or something to entertain their child, into restaurants and stores," says the mom, who lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan. "Now we just have better technology." It’s no surprise that the phone has filled the entertainment void for children, being that similar electronics such as TVs, video games, and personal computers have been doing it for years. The fact that phones are convenient, portable, and possess more options for parents makes it an easy decision. The article pushed this point, stating, “now more and more parents are discovering smartphones' similar ability to engage squirmy kids at restaurants, in the car and anywhere else where youngsters grow bored.”

The phone industries and application developers caught on as well. Looking beyond the fact that the phones themselves have touch screens, moving objects and bright colors that hold young eyes hostage, the content on the phones shows a clear market for children. The children’s application market is booming, and it seems to be going nowhere but up. Almost half of the top 100-selling education apps in the iTunes App Store were for preschool or elementary-aged children in November 2009, according to a content analysis by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, which promotes digital media technologies to advance children's learning. Expert Carly Shuler says the reason for this -- assuming the majority of 3- to 10-year-olds don't own their own phones -- is because adults are taking advantage of the smartphone's ability to act as a mobile learning or entertainment device for their children.

So the big question: why are children so fascinated with the smartphones? Shuler weighed in, saying, “When you look at the design of the iPhone ... the interface is very tactile and well suited to what a child naturally does, they think with their fingers. If they see something they like, they'll jab at it and touch it. And children love flipping things. If you flip the iPhone, something will happen. If you shake the iPhone, something will happen."

“Take a look at some of the best-selling toys throughout the years,” she said. “Kids have always loved to play with toy telephones, toy lawn mowers, toy ovens and toy vacuum cleaners. They like to play with things their parents have, considering how much time parents spend on [their phones], it makes sense that kids would want them, too."

Smartphones are now serving as a center for entertainment and education for children everywhere from restaurants to grocery stores. What advances do you see on the horizon for mobile devices and them being geared toward children?

The story: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/26/smartphones.kids/index.html

Monday, April 26, 2010

What you should know about Facebook's changes

San Francisco, California (CNN) -- Facebook announced some changes on Wednesday that are intended to make the Internet more social. Essentially, Facebook is stretching out into the rest of the Web.
But what do these new features actually mean for everyday people who use the Internet?
And when you see these Facebook-looking features popping up on other Web sites, how do you know what to do with them?
Here's a quick guide, based on a comments by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's founder and CEO, and interviews with developers who create applications for the massively popular social-networking site:
"Like" buttons

Buttons with the word "like" and a thumbs-up icon on them are going to start popping up all over the Internet. By clicking one, you indicate that you find the content interesting, relevant or helpful. Basically, you would recommend it to a friend.

Before Wednesday, "like" buttons only were on Facebook. Now, they'll be all over the place, including on this site. When you click one, you post the item -- whether it's a blog post, photo or celebrity web page -- to your Facebook news feed.

Read about how the feature will work on CNN.com.

The "liked" content may also become part of your Facebook profile, and visible to your friends or to everyone, depending on how your privacy settings are configured on Facebook.
Continue reading@ http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/21/facebook.changes.users/index.html?npt=NP1

I am currently researching the ethical issues of privacy entailed in social media sites,this can bring a lot of privacy issues, as well as some possibly beneficial data for companies. What are your thoughts on this issue?

Your Body as a Touchscreen

Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- In Chris Harrison's ideal world, mobile phones would be the size of matchbooks. They'd have full-size keyboards. They'd browse the Web. They'd play videos.

And, most importantly, you'd never have to touch them.

Sound like too much to ask? Maybe not.

Harrison, a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University and a former intern at Microsoft Research, has developed a working prototype of a system called Skinput that does just that, essentially by turning a person's hand and forearm into a keyboard and screen.


Watch the video and read the rest of the article at http://bit.ly/dlLoIM

I came across this video and it reminded me of our class discussion on where technology will be in 10 years. This article and video talks about 'Skinput' where your body becomes a touchscreen based off the vibrations from tapping your hand or wrist. A screen is literally projected on your forearm as it would in your phone. What are your thoughts on this technology?

Parents using smartphones to entertain bored kids

(CNN) -- When Julie Sidder's daughters were younger, her diaper bag was filled with coloring books, crayons, storybooks and little games in case one of them became restless.

Now that Sidder's kids are 4 and 7, the diaper bag is gone, but the need for entertainment -- especially in restaurants -- is not, which is why two-thirds of the apps on Sidder's iPhone are for her children.

"People have always brought toys, or something to entertain their child, into restaurants and stores," says the mom, who lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan. "Now we just have better technology."

Harried parents for years have relied on glowing electronic screens -- TVs, video games, computers -- to entertain children in the home. Now more and more parents are discovering smartphones' similar ability to engage squirmy kids at restaurants, in the car and anywhere else where youngsters grow bored.


Read the rest of the article at http://bit.ly/dv51IC



Parents are using the iPhone to help entertain their kids while they are out in public. Parents do not look at this as a babysitting tool, but a way to help the child's hand eye coordination. Also, some parents believe by their kids playing with the phone it will help them become more comfortable with technology. The educational apps for the children to play on are growing at a rapid rate.

Do you think the iPhone is really helping to educate the younger generation or this is another way for Smartphones to make more money?

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Avatar DVD release

Avatar was released on DVD and BlueRay this week. It is still maintaining its popularity by bringing in 6.7 million dollars in rentals so far. I am suprised that the DVD is so popular without it being the 3D version that most people saw in the theatres. Fox spokesman still haven't made an announcement about a possible 3D release of this movie. Do you think a 3D release would be as popular or even more popular? Should the executives wait so long before releasing it in hopes that the popularity doesn't wear off? Also how will the home 3D experience differ from that in the movie theatre?

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=495707

Alice and wonderland Fasion

Alice and wonderland Fasion

Disney has come up with an Alice and Wonderland Fashion line. The cloths are inspired by the Tim Burton Film that will be released on 1 June 2010. Its interesting that Disney which is geared towards Children is now Making Cloths for adults as well as kids. The Thought of Wearing Alice and Wonderland Fashion makes me ask the question "Is this a good move?". I mean while adults my love the fabulous art work featured in the Alice and Wonderland Movie, will they enjoy wearing it? As a company, is this a big risk or a even better new trend. What do you think? These outfits are expected to run from 114$-120$ retail price

Saturday, April 24, 2010

3D TV

There's been a lot of talk about the possibilities for 3D television but this is the first time I've seen a major advertising campaign for it.
This is a commercial for the new Samsung 3D LED TV and it is completely AWESOME!

Check it out


and let me know what you think in the comments

Thursday, April 22, 2010

SLY as Fox...

I recently found an article on http://www.mediamatters.org/ that argued Fox News is running a crusade against Muslims.
"The network has a history of making controversial assertions about Muslims-often by basely branding them as "terrorists" or "terrorist sympathizers"--calling for profiling, or equating Islam and all of its adherents with radical extremists who claim to act in its name."

On today's edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, Fox news hosted evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Rev. Billy Graham, to discuss reports that the Army is reconsidering their invitation for him to appear at the Pentagon on the National Day of Prayer due to his negative words towards the Islamic religion.


More comments from Graham and other Fox & Friends guests can be found here: www.tinyurl.com/2e9bwaz

Fox has always played to an audience. During the election, it is possible they dug themself into a hole, or gold mine, by branding themself as conservative. I feel, in order to keep their network and ratings, they are playing to a specific crowd, through the messages they are sending.

This is perfect for our class, in my opinion, because it reminds you that our society is about making money, suppy and demand. Initially, this article annoyed me with the media, and it blew my mind that the media would allow this coverage.
Though it seemed shocking, media wouldn't cover this if there wasn't a demand. So many people are mad at media, including myself sometimes, but we are to blame and actually have more control than we think.

Additional thoughts?

South Park Censored?

I don't know if any of you are fans of the show, but I am pretty fanatical!

The past two episodes have featured some of the plots, celebrities, and jeers in seasons past. These episodes were 200 and 201 for the show. A major premise of the show surrounded the depiction of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, which is no new topic for the show. On this occasion, even the words Muhammad and Prophet were censored, along with the image himself.

How do you feel about the censorship? Do you think it was forced upon the South Park creators? What is a move made by the creators to poke fun at the situation?

http://tv.yahoo.com/south-park/show/492/news/tv-news.en.reuters.com/tv-news.en.reuters.com-20100422-us_southpark_muslims

Facebook's New Ad Scheme Gets More Personal

Facebook is taking their advertising services to the next level; adding the possibilities for virtually any company to add a "Like" button to their site. By participating, companies will then have valuable tracking data on how many and what type of people use their products. The "Like" button has been a staple of Facebook; allowing users to see what posts interest their friends. Much like the "Fan" service, the "Like" service will allow advertisers to individually target users with ads related to their "Likes". While the targeted ad system has been in use for some time under the "Interests" section of users' profiles, the "Like" system will make it more personal.

I wonder just how much influence this type of direct-to-user advertising will have on the user's personal decisions. If ads are no longer broad spectrum, but personally targeted, how much else does the company know about you and how to influence your life?

Read the WSJ article here: http://bit.ly/93yaUY

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Shake Weight Advertising

So, have you all heard about the Shake Weight? When it was released the following commercial advertised it. Shortly after, they received a lot of criticism about how it works. There are plenty of youtube videos that you can find.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S3C4AC908w

Today I saw a new commercial in which they didn't demonstrate the exercise equipment...
If you can find it, repost it. I couldn't find it.

Question: I think that this sexually suggestive commercial helped the sales of the product! I know, my friend got it because I told her it was a scam and how stupid it looked. What do you think?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Google Battle over Internet Censorship not only in China

Google Inc.'s fight with China over Internet censorship made headlines around the world, but it has been engaged in similar battles around the globe.

At least 25 countries, many of them with repressive regimes but even those with democracies, have at times blocked the public's access to Google over the last several years. All told, more than 40 countries actively censor the Internet, compared with a handful in 2004, which is when the OpenNet Initiative, a group of academics, began tracking global censorship.

Some countries are setting up powerful electronic barriers, similar to the "Great Firewall" in China, to control what the public can access. Others, such as Belize, have blocked Google Talk and Microsoft's MSN Messenger, as well as other services that allow people to talk to one another over the Internet.

"China has gotten a lot of press, but for us this is a global issue," said Nicole Wong, Google's deputy general counsel. "Censorship has certainly been on an upward trajectory, not just in China."

The Internet giant unplugged its search engine in mainland China last month to protest government restrictions. Google said China was where it wanted to take its most public stand because it felt the communist nation was becoming increasingly more repressive.

"It is a battle," Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said at a meeting of the American Society of News Editors on Sunday. "We know that there is a reasonably large group of people in China who are seeking non-censored information."

Critics say the company's earlier willingness to work with Chinese censorship laws may have actually exacerbated the problem, and emboldened some countries to tighten their citizens' access to the Internet. The stakes, they say, are high.

Thoughts? Should Google be censored? Why or why not?

Facebook and Nielsen Join Forces

This article discusses an alliance between Facebook and Nielsen to determine advertising efficiency in social media. It provides some interested data and numbers on exactly what the benefits have been. The author, not so subtlety, points out that there is no surprise in Nielsen's report results.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042001770.html


This article is even better. It provides some graphs and charts.
Advertisers can’t buy earned media; it has to be earned through user engagement and connections between users and brands”.

http://www.socialemailmarketing.eu/2010/04/facebook-and-nielsen-report-advertisers-cant-buy-earned-media.html

Monday, April 19, 2010

Dip in DVD rental revenue

DVD rentals have gone from silver lining for Hollywood's struggling home entertainment business to yet another rain cloud.

Digital Entertainment Group, a trade organization for the major movie studios, released its first-quarter data Thursday with the surprising news that U.S. DVD rental revenue fell 14% from a year ago. DVD sales and rentals account for about half the profit for a movie, so any decline portends financial worries.

During a very tough 2009 for home entertainment, consumers preferred to rent DVDs rather than purchase them. DVD rental revenue rose 4% for the year while sales dropped 13%. Both figures include high-definition Blu-ray discs.

It states later in the article that the only movie that did outstanding on it's DVD release was "Twlight Saga: New Moon." Of course later on it says how Circuit City had DVDs on sale and how the economy was in a recession.

Do you think that Hollywood is really in trouble when it comes to the DVD market? Will things get better? Or will we as consumers only want to eventually grow to simply renting on video OnDemand or download-to-own instead of actually going out to a video store and buying a DVD. Discuss.

http://bit.ly/bfKXdv

Is online news just ramen noodles? What media economics research can teach us about valuing paid content

The New York Times’ announcement that it would be charging for some access to its website, starting in 2011, rekindled yet another round of debate about paywalls for online news. Beyond the practical question (will it work?) or the theoretical one (what does this mean for the Times’ notion of the “public”?), there remains another question to be untangled here — perhaps one more relevant to the smaller papers who might be thinking of following the Times’ example:

What is the underlying economic value of online news, anyway?

Media economist Iris Chyi [see disclosure below] has a few ideas about this problem. An assistant professor in the School of Journalism at the University of Texas, she has been researching the paid-vs.-free, print-vs.-online conundrum since the late ’90s. Her research has consistently found that even while online news use continues growing, its preference lags behind that of traditional media. In other words: Even as audiences transition from TV/print news consumption to the web, they still like the traditional formats better for getting news, all other things being equal.

Now, this seemingly makes no sense: How could a format as clunky, messy and old-school as print “beat” such a faster, richer and more interactive medium on likability?

Chyi believes she found the answer in the economic principle of “inferior goods.” The idea is simple: When income increases, consumers buy more “normal goods” (think: steak) and fewer “inferior goods” (think: ramen noodles). When income goes down, the opposite occurs (again, all things being equal in economics terms). Inferiority, in this case, isn’t so much a statement of actual quality as it is of consumer perception and demand. If we get richer, our desires for steak go up and our desires for ramen go down.

What does this mean for journalism? “Users perceive online news in similar ways — online news fulfills certain needs but is not perceived as desirable as print newspapers,” Chyi said.

Article by Seth C. Lewis

For full article go to: http://www.niemanlab.org/2010/02/is-online-news-just-ramen-noodles-what-media-economics-research-can-teach-us-about-valuing-paid-content/

What do you think about valuing paid content? Will this work?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

"Crouching Tiger..."


Tiger Woods walked off the 18th green at the 2010 Masters Championship with a final-round 69 and 279 total. Phil Mickelson's winning with 272 total. Needless to say, Woods walked away without a green jacket.


Woods has been frequently criticized by the media and viewers in regard to his personal affairs. During Round 1 of the Masters, an airplane flew over the course with a banner that read "Tiger did you mean booty-ism." Many wonder if all the media coverage has affected his emotions and his game.

Phil Mickelson has been in the news briefly, on the other hand. For those who do not know, his wife and his mother are both battling with breast cancer. I find it interesting that very little media coverage has highlighted his accomplishments and perseverance versus the failure of Woods.

Good news is, Tiger’s comeback did bring record viewership for the Masters Tournament. ESPN says nearly 5 million people tuned in for first round coverage which is the biggest audience a cable network has EVER gotten for golf. CBS is reporting a 33 percent increase in viewership over last year.

It is safe to say that the negative press is helping ESPN, Golf, and others but at what cost? How much is this really helping the sales? Any other comments in relation to media economics?


http://tinyurl.com/yyfcwlt




Get Paid to Blog

I recently signed up on SECfilings.com, a service that gives members (usually brokers and investors) real-time updates on SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) filings. I got an e-mail the other day suggesting investors seriously consider investing in bloggerwave (BLGW).

Check out their website at www.bloggerwaveinc.com/

So what do they do?
"
Bloggerwave helps its corporate clients harness the power of the Internet by leveraging the power and credibility of blogs to promote products and services.
"
"Bloggerwave’s innovative business model connects corporate clients directly with thousands of pre-approved bloggers around the globe, giving the bloggers the opportunity to write about specific products or services and include a link to the company’s website. Once a company is blogged about, it increases its Internet buzz, credibility, site hits, ranking on search engines –and ultimately, its bottom line."

My e-mail suggested investing in this company because they are still young and growing rapidly. Their site has several brands that are clients, many of which are big-name companies. The investment suggestion was also based on the fact that the internet is the next frontier of advertising and consumers are turning more and more to peer suggestions rather than conventional advertising to find new products.

I think it is a great idea and would be a good investment. Bloggerwave is one of the early movers in this type of service, and I feel that their risk is going to pay of huge.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Strong U.S. iPad Sales Delay Tablet's Foreign Debut

U.S. buyers have been snapping up the iPad so quickly that Apple Inc. is delaying the tablet computer's overseas debut a second time, the company said Wednesday.

Apple said it will now start taking orders for the iPad from international buyers on May 10.

In January, it said the iPad would be sold worldwide in late March. After analysts reported production delays would limit the number of units available, Apple postponed the U.S. launch to April 3 and delayed plans for the international launch until late in April.

Word of the second delay didn't faze Apple investors, who are eager to see signs the iPad is selling well. Apple shares rose $2.39, or 1 percent, to $244.82 in morning trading.

"We know that many international customers waiting to buy an iPad will be disappointed by this news, but we hope they will be pleased to learn the reason -- the iPad is a runaway success in the U.S. thus far," Apple said in a statement.

Apple said it has delivered more than 500,000 iPads in the U.S. and has taken "a large number" of orders for the coming models that can go online over cellular broadband rather than solely where Wi-Fi is available. Those versions cost $629, $729 or $829, depending on the storage capacity.

The Wi-Fi-only iPads available now are $499, $599 or $699.

What do you think ? comments ?

Apple to Lend Hand to IAd Producers

Appel's not just getting into the business of selling ads they are going to furnish a format to make them themselves. However Appel makes it very clear they are not interested or do not see themselves becoming a main stream ad agency they feel with the help of some of thier creative tech savvy workers they can produce a formate to launce ads that will appeal to tradition agencies of advertising.Appel wants to set a new bar for "rich-media advertising on mobile".

Read more @: http://www.adage.com/digital/article?article_id=143245

Now other can be trained and to produce ads of highier quality thanks to Apple stepping in and offering a helping hand. Maybe this temporary fix can blossom helping more ad agencies despite Appels short term intentions.


Thoughts and comments or other related sources??

Activision and Infinity Ward Problems

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6252657.html
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6257485.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop%3Bstory%3B19
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6257676.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop%3Bstory%3B11
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6257753.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop%3Bstory%3B1

For those of you that aren't as interested in video games as I am, Activision (owned by Blizzard) is one of the largest game-producing companies in the U.S. They're a multi-billion dollar company with such hits as the Guitar Hero/DJ Hero series, the Tony Hawk series, and the Call of Duty series. Infinity ward is a production studio owned by Activision. Infinity Ward is the studio responsible for the Call of Duty franchise, which has accounted for over $3 billion worth of sales since the first Call of Duty was released in 2003.

The problem that Activision finds itself in now is a staffing one. Activision recently fired Infinity Ward's two top producers: Jason West (President of Infinity Ward, co-COO, and game director), and Vince Zampella (CEO and co founder), stating the reasons for doing so are "insubordination," and "breaches of contract." Activision and these two men are now locked in a legal battle over, with both sides suing.

Financial experts said that these two men leaving wouldn't make that much of a difference to Infinity Ward's bottom line, as long as no more of the company's leadership leaves with them. However, West and Zampella just announced that they have been hired by rival video game publisher Electronic Arts. A day after this announcement was made, three more Infinity Ward employees left - Design lead Mackey McCandlish, senior animator Bruce Ferriz, and programmer Jon Shirin.

While they haven't announced any intention to join the new publisher at Electronic Arts, it is likely this will happen soon.

What do you think? Is Activision imploding; losing many of the top people responsible for their largest-selling franchise to their direct rival? Can Activision afford to do this, especially with the economy like it is and video game sales dropping? Remember, the video game is still very much hits-driven; and the Call of Duty franchise is already an established hit.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Apple's MacBook Pro line gets new Intel processors, price tweaks

This is a post from yahoo.com

At last, the long-rumored revamp of Apple's MacBook Pro notebooks has arrived, with the 15- and 17-inch models getting bleeding-edge Intel Core i5 and i7 processors while the 13-inch version sees graphics and battery-life improvements. Also new: a $100 price hike for one of the MacBook Pro configurations, plus $100 and $200 price cuts for two others.

The biggest news, of course, is the replacement of the older Intel Core 2 Duo processors on the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models (starting at $1,799 for the 15-incher — a $100 price hike over last year's model — and $2,299 for the 17-inch MBP, a $200 price drop) with Intel's next-generation Core i5 and i7 processors, good for a performance boost of "up to 50 percent" over last year's lineup, Apple claims.

Of the new MacBook Pros, only the high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro configuration gets the i7 processor. The other two 15-inch configurations and the single 17-inch MBP model must settle for the i5 processor. [Update: Oops — turns out you can get a Core i7 processor for the 17-inch MacBook Pro as a $200 built-to-order option. Sorry about that (and thanks, Carl!).]

Meanwhile, the 13-inch MacBook Pro (starting at $1,119, same as before) is sticking with Intel's Core 2 Duo processor for now, although it's getting a slight speed bump (to 2.66GHz, from 2.53GHz) and — according to Apple, anyway — the "fastest integrated graphics processor on the market," courtesy of Nvidia's GeForce 320M graphics chipset (for a supposed 80 percent performance boost over the previous GeForce 9400M chipset).

Apple is also crowing about the 13-inch MacBook Pro's improved battery life — up to 10 hours, although we'll have to see how that figure holds up under testing.

The 15- and 17-inch models are getting graphic performance boosts as well thanks to the new GeForce GT 330M chipset, with either 256MB or 512MB of dedicated graphics depending on the configuration, along with "seamless" switching between speedy GeForce graphics and slower but "energy-efficient" Intel HD Graphics processors.

As for the MacBook and MacBook Air lines ... no news, at least at the moment.

Anyway, on to the specs:

13-inch MacBook Pro
• 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM (twice as much as last year's entry-level configuration), 250GB hard drive (was 160GB last year), Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics, $1,119
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, 320GB hard drive (was 250GB), Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics, $1,499

15-inch MacBook Pro
• 2.4GHz Intel Core i5, 4GB of RAM, 320GB hard drive (last year's entry-level configuration was just 250GB), Nvidia GeForce GT 330M with 256MB of dedicated memory, $1799 (a $100 price hike over last year's entry-level 15-inch model)
• 2.53 Intel Core i5, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive (was 320GB), Nvidia GeForce GT 330M with 256MB of dedicated memory, $1,999
• 2.66 Intel Core i7, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive, Nvidia GeForce GT 330M with 512 of dedicated memory, $2,199 (a $100 price drop compared to last year's high-end 15-inch configuration)

17-inch MacBook Pro
• 2.53GHz Intel Core i5, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive, Nvidia GeForce GT 330M with 512 of dedicated memory, $2,229 (a $200 price drop from last year's 17-inch MacBook Pro)

So, anyone ready to upgrade now that the i5- and i7-powered MacBook Pros are here? Wish the 13-inch MBP got the i5 upgrade along with the 15- and 17-inch models? Pleased or annoyed by the price points? Fire away below.

— Ben Patterson is a technology writer for Yahoo! News.

website: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100413/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1585

Twitter To Put Ads On 'Promoted Tweets'

Saying that its "simple service" will be "non-traditional ... easy .. (and) makes a ton of sense," Twitter this morning has confirmed that it is joining the ranks of websites that hope to make money from advertising.

According to Twitter:

"You will start to see Tweets promoted by our partner advertisers called out at the top of some Twitter.com search results pages. We strongly believe that Promoted Tweets should be useful to you. We'll attempt to measure whether the Tweets resonate with users and stop showing Promoted Tweets that don't resonate. Promoted Tweets will be clearly labeled as "promoted" when an advertiser is paying, but in every other respect they will first exist as regular Tweets and will be organically sent to the timelines of those who follow a brand."

Thoughs and comments?

Monday, April 12, 2010

3 Bidders for MIRAMAX

Three Bidders, and Three Visions, Are Said to Be Competing for Miramax 

 

"what was once Hollywood’s best-known independent film company..."  MIRAMAX is up for bids.

 Last Thursday, this article in NYTIMES wrote about how Walt Disney Company has been "weighing three potentially viable bids for its inactive Miramax Films unit." 

 The three bidders are:

1) all-cash bid of $550 million- brothers Tom, Alec, and Sam Gores, who are independent investors in the entertainment industry. (Sam Gores controls Paradigm- major talent agency)

 2) offer amounting to $600 million- Yucipa Companies, controlled by Ronald W. Burkle WHO ACTUALLY partners with FORMER Miramax owners Bob and Harvey Weinstein who co-founded Miramax in 1979 and later sold it to Disney in 1993. The Weinstein's have previously been considering 'reacquiring the studio'

 3) value near to $700 million is offered by investor David Berstein- Pangea Media Group. Even though this is the highest offer, Bergstein has been "connected to an involuntary bankruptcy"...so it would SEEM that the offer isn't as good as it sounds.

All three offers seem to be close to what Disney was originally wanting to sell the company for, which was $700 million. It started at 12 or so offers, and now is down to these 3. 

The Weinstein Brothers, if they get Miramax, claim that they would NOT merge it with their company, Weinstein Company, but manage it as a "strategic partnership." Weinstein Company hasn't been immensely successful but did really well with "Inglourious Basterds."


Google Finance:

ABOUT MIRAMAX: Independent films get major corporate backing from this company. A subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, the filmed entertainment division of media giant Walt Disney, Miramax Film Corp. is a well-known movie producer that caters to audiences outside the mainstream. Its films have included Adventureland, Doubt, and Happy-Go-Lucky, as well as past Oscar winners The Queen (released in 2006) and No Country for Old Men (2007). Brothers Bob and Harvey Weinstein formed Miramax in 1979 and sold it to Disney in 1993. After a falling out with their corporate parent in 2005, the Weinsteins left to form their own production business, The Weinstein Company.

READ the article to find out more details with Weinstein acquiring Miramax. IF they do, once again, own this company, what do you think it will do for Weinstein Co. and do you think they WOULD merge in the end? How would that help their success with the name of Miramax? 


 

 

 



Thursday, April 8, 2010

School District Proposes Ban on Facebook Friends Between Students and Faculty

A CNN article spotlighted a story from the Granite School District near Salt Lake City that has proposed a policy on banning faculty from becoming friends on Facebook with students. If the policy is passed, it will be the first of its kind in the entire state. Many have weighed in on the topic, from parents, students, and educators alike.

The Granite School District said they recognize the potential value of social networking, but they are also aware how it can lead to problems. "The reality is they're called social networking for a reason and when you're networking for social reasons, you should be doing that with your peers and children and teachers are not peers," said Ben Horsley, spokesman for the Granite School District. "Children should be interacting with their peers and teachers should be able to have some privacy and exclusivity of their own lives." While this debate is concentrated to just this district, it has potential to set a precedent for decisions made in other school districts and states. This leads to a few questions: Does being “friends on Facebook” with educators instigate problems between students and teachers that otherwise wouldn’t exist? Does the level of education (i.e. high school, college) have any impact on the social acceptance of communicating through social networking sites? The Granite School District is voting April 20th on the proposed ban, and the repercussions outcome of that decision is definitely one to follow in the future.

The story: http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-school-district-ban-facebook-faculty-students,0,4692736.story

Nike Airing New Tiger Woods’ Commercial During Masters

We have all heard the story of the fall of Tiger Woods and the countless viewpoints that have accompanied it after it reaching national headlines. Throughout all of the events that have taken place, Nike, one of Woods’ strongest sponsor and supporters, has remained with him. Being a public relations major, I’ve naturally been drawn to this story to see how the situation is handled. This is one of the largest personalities of our time and this is a story that without a doubt will be talked about for as long as we are alive, so its outcome will definitely set the bar for similar events in the future.

With that being said, I came across this article and a commercial that began airing yesterday during the Masters Tournament coverage (this is significant because it is the first tournament Woods has participated in since the scandal broke if you’re not up to date). The commercial is without a doubt a great move on Nike’s part to show their support for their largest investment, but the commercial itself left me with mixed feelings and unsure of what their motives were behind it. The commercial consists of a close-up of Woods, slowly zooming as the commercial progresses. It is also shot in black and white, which gave me a haunting vibe from the opening moments. On top of this simple 30-second spot, a voiceover speaks, saying, “Tiger, I am more prone to being inquisitive, to promote discussion. I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. And did you learn anything?" The first time I saw it, I didn’t understand it. Upon further investigation, I found very surprising information. The voiceover was a combination of audio clips of Tiger’s deceased father, Earl Woods. The situation just got extremely heavy. Nike has become known for memorable advertisements, and this one will definitely make the list as well.

After watching the commercial, I’d like to hear your response to it. What were Nike’s motives? Do you think the commercial will ultimately be effective in whatever their goals were in airing it?

The video:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/08/AR2010040803416.html

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

iPad Adversary

Another iPad post... sort of!

It's about HPs iPad counterpart. I'm going to look up some more information about it, but this is a good start. Whatever you guys and find on it, please post. It looks really cool!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100406/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1480

Monday, April 5, 2010

Apple's iPad: The End Of The Internet As We Know It?

The obsession of the tech-savvy this weekend was the release of Apple's iPad. The tablet computer, which looks like an oversized iPod Touch, is being hailed by many as a revolutionary device. But there are some critics who say it's a sign that the Internet revolution could be coming to an end.
On its Web site, Apple boasts that the iPad makes you "feel like you are actually holding the Web right in the palm of your hand."
Paul Sweeting, an analyst with GigaOM, sees it differently. "With the iPad," he says, "you have the anti-Internet in your hands."
'Pushing Content To You On Their Terms'
Although Apple is marketing the iPad as a replacement for a netbook or a laptop, Sweeting says Apple's control over the iPad makes it very different, because on most computers, you can choose any software or application you like. "This is not an open platform where you can create a lot of content, or other people can create a lot of applications and content that you can then access and use and incorporate into what you're doing," he says.
This is not an open platform where you can create a lot of content ... that you can then access and use and incorporate into what you're doing.
- Analyst Paul Sweeting
Jonathan Zittrain, a law professor at Harvard, says Apple even rejected an application that took a position that was critical of the former Bush administration. The app was called Freedom Time, and Zittrain says "it actually simply counted down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until President Bush would be out of office, regardless of who his successor would be."
Zittrain and Sweeting worry that if the iPad becomes popular, both entertainment and computing companies will imitate its closed system.
Sweeting says he thinks many of the major media companies would love to see computers discourage people from searching the open Internet for content.
"I think the media companies will leap at this," he says. "It offers them the opportunity to essentially re-create the old business model, wherein they are pushing content to you on their terms rather than you going out and finding content, or a search engine discovering content for you."
All Tech Considered
Review: Even With Its Flaws, The iPad Is Still Impressive April 3, 2010
The iPad does have an Internet browser, but it won't be possible to download unauthorized software or to view sites that use flash — the technology that animates most visual content on the Internet.
'A Gated Community'
But people waiting in line over the weekend to buy an iPad didn't seem bothered by Apple's restrictions. In fact, many prefer it.
Apple fan Damen Brown says open systems worry him because "there's more of a risk of there being less quality control and a lot of garbage apps."
The iPhone has more than 100,000 apps available, and there are already more than 1,000 just for the iPad.
Apple is offering you a gated community where there's a guard at the gate, and there's probably maid service, too.
- Analyst Paul Sweeting
Jennifer Childers, who was also in line over the weekend to buy an iPad, says she doesn't notice the restrictions, and she doesn't mind them. "It's not being controlled so much, because every idea's gotten through except for things that are like pornography or some other things that I wouldn't be looking at anyway."
There is one big competitor that is likely to try to create a device that will offer up major competition to Apple's iPad: Google. The search giant profits from an open environment. But its Nexus One Android phone hasn't been as appealing to consumers as Apple's iPhone.
Analyst Sweeting says Apple's limitations make its products feel like living in a safe neighborhood. "Apple is offering you a gated community where there's a guard at the gate, and there's probably maid service, too."
As more consumers have fears about security on the Internet, viruses and malware, they may be happy to opt for Apple's gated community.

Please tell your thoughts and comments ?

3-D is the Future for Movies

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1886541-1,00.html

3 of the top 5 grossing films out right now are in 3D (Alice in Wonderland, How to Train your Dragon, and Clash of the Titans). James Cameron says if the technology were around earlier, he would have filmed Titanic in 3D, and says all of his future films are going to be in 3D. George Lucas want to re-release Star Wars in 3D, and big name directors like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are both planning films in the third dimension.

A few weeks ago we laughed in class about owning a 3D television, but is that so far out of the question? If the movie companies are moving toward this new medium, is it such a stretch to imagine yourself sitting at home with the family, watching your favorite movie in 3D, right in your living room? And of course, wearing those super-cool glasses?

Thoughts? Comments?