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ArchivesSenators Want Federal Ban on Sale of Mature-Rated Video Games to MinorsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:28am.
Washington - Senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) announced on Wednesday that they plan to introduce legislation that would outlaw the sale of "Mature"-rated video games to minors nationwide. The "Family Entertainment Protection Act" also calls for a Federal Trade Commission investigation into "misleading" game ratings; an annual analysis of the ratings system; the authority for consumers to register complaints; and annual sting operations on retailers to determine compliance. "I have developed legislation that will empower parents by making sure their kids can't walk into a store and buy a video game that has graphic, violent and pornographic content," said Senator Clinton, who said impetus for the legislation came from the recent "Grand Theft Auto" "Hot Coffee" sex mini-game scandal, and a report issued on Wednesday by the National Institute on Media and the Family that found minors were able to purchase Mature-rated games 42% of the time. However, such bans on the sale of video games have been ruled unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds three times; similar bans recently enacted in California, Illinois and Michigan are also the target of game industry lawsuits. Hal Halpin, president of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association, a trade group of video game retailers, said in a statement that his group had "committed voluntarily to a self-regulatory enforcement system substantially similar to the motion picture business, which the very same legislators hold up as the 'Gold Standard'." Senator Clinton said she plans to introduce the bill when the Senate reconvenes in two weeks.
"Cyber Monday" Traffic to Retail Sites Beats "Black Friday" FiguresAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:26am.
New York - About 27.7 million U.S. Internet users visited retail web sites on "Cyber" Monday, eclipsing the traffic those sites saw on the previous "Black" Friday by 15%, according to new figures released by Nielsen/NetRatings. "'Cyber Monday' brought a surge of traffic to many online retailers as shoppers returned to work following the holiday weekend ready to tackle their holiday gift lists," said Heather Dougherty, a senior retail analyst for Nielsen/NetRatings. The firm said that shoppers were enticed to the sites by steep discounts on merchandise and free shipping offers. The top five online shopping destinations on Monday included eBay, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target and Overstock.com.
Intel "Viiv" Technology to Facilitate Media Downloads to PCs, Portable DevicesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:24am.
Santa Clara, Calif. - Chipmaker Intel announced on Wednesday that it is working with over 40 content companies to provide support for its Viiv digital home technology, which it says will facilitate the download of music, movies, games and other content to Viiv-enabled PCs, portable devices and home media networks. The Intel Viiv technology, set for release in the first quarter of 2006, will be embedded in PCs, laptops, portable media players, digital TVs, DVD players and other devices. In the second half of 2006, Intel said that content providers including British Sky Broadcasting, Movielink, TiVo, Loudeye, Napster, VirginMega, Capcom, Square Enix and Ubisoft will begin utilizing Intel software that allows their content to be shared across home networks. Intel will provide engineering support, specifications and verification tools to content owners, content distributors, portals, software application developers and device vendors to help deliver Internet-based content services and software applications that are tested and verified to work with an Intel Viiv technology-based PC.
Microsoft, MP3 Player Makers Seek Universal Docking PortAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:23am.
San Francisco - Microsoft has joined a working group launched by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) designed to create a common docking port for MP3 players, so that all would use a common connection for third-party add-ons for cars and home stereos. The group aims to provide the same ease of use offered for Apple's iPod, which uses a single interface to connect any number of add-on devices; currently, the myriad other MP3 players on the market use different docking designs. "To safely enjoy today's portable information and entertainment products in the car, you must be able to securely connect the portable devices in the car through cradles and other similar mechanisms," said CEA vice president Brian Markwalter. "To accommodate this need, the portable device industry has thus far invented a variety of proprietary docking connectors that are not generally interoperable. This new working group will create an industry standard docking connector specification that could be adopted by any host or portable device manufacturer regardless of the format or protocol that it supports." Manufacturers that have joined the working group with Microsoft include Belkin, Bose, Creative Technology, iRiver, Nokia and Sirius.
CBS to Premiere Coldplay Ringtone in Tonight's Episode of "CSI: NY"Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:21am.
New York - Viacom's CBS network announced on Wednesday that it will embed a master recording ringtone ("Realtone") of a song from Capitol Records recording artists Coldplay into an episode of its drama "CSI: NY," and then offer the ringtone for download to viewers several minutes later. A ringtone of Coldplay's "Talk," from its double platinum album "X&Y," will be included in tonight's episode of "CSI: NY". The ringtone will then be available exclusively from CBS.com for one week.
U.S. Team Sweeps Finals at World Cyber GamesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:20am.
New York - The team of video gamers representing the U.S. has swept the finals at the World Cyber Games, a video game tournament held last weekend in Singapore that awarded $2.5 million in prizes. The U.S. team beat out 700 gamers representing 67 countries to capture the world champion title for the first time, medaling in games including "Counter-Strike," "Halo 2" and "WarCraft III: Frozen Throne." The U.S. "Team 3D," which repeated as gold medalists in "Counter-Strike" for the second year, featured members from New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Des Moines, Iowa. Organizers of the World Cyber Games, sponsored by Samsung, said the event drew 55,000 live spectators, and an online audience of 530,000 who watched the live webcast; the finals were also broadcast on MTV. Next year's Grand Final is slated to be held in Monza, Italy.
U.K.-Based Games Firm Mind Candy Raises $3 MillionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:18am.
London - Mind Candy, a U.K.-based alternate reality gaming (ARG) firm, announced that it has raised approximately $3 million in venture capital financing. Index Ventures, a venture capital firm with offices in Switzerland and the U.K., led the investment round. According to Mind Candy, ARG is a new type of game that combines real-world events, websites, text messages, TV, print and a wide range of other media to create an "immersive gaming experience". Founded in 2003 and based primarily in London, Mind Candy specializes in the design of a new style of puzzles -- "well beyond the boring and lifeless ones that have dominated for years" -- that weave together with ARGs and Cross Media Entertainment (XME).
Report: France, U.K. and Spain Lead Europe in Internet UsageAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:16am.
Paris - According to a new report by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA), the French -- followed by the British and Spanish -- spend more hours on the Internet than anyone else in Europe. The EIAA said the French spend on average about 13 hours online every week, while Brits and Spaniards spend about 11 hours online. Italians spend the least amount of time online, surfing the Internet just eight hours a week (the European average is currently about 10 hours and 15 minutes per week). The numbers should come as little surprise, as broadband adoption across Europe is booming, according to another report by research firm Datamonitor. "The current situation in many markets can be best described as one of rapidly increasing penetration, where broadband has effectively entered its growth sweet spot," said Datamonitor's Tim Gower. Gower claims that connection rates will level out at 60% of European households.
TiVo, Intel Partner on TV Show Transfers to PCsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:15am.
Alviso, Calif. - TiVo announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with chipmaker Intel to enable users to transfer recorded TV shows to a PC containing Intel's Viiv technology using only a remote control. The new feature will also enable TiVo users to edit and view their digital photo collections on their televisions. Separately, TiVo said on Wednesday that it has now surpassed 4 million subscribers to its digital video recorder service.
Robertson's MP3tunes Launches Online Locker Streaming ServiceAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:13am.
San Diego - MP3tunes, a digital music start-up created by MP3.com founder Michael Robertson, announced on Wednesday the launch of Oboe, an online music locker service that can store a user's entire personal music library online. The service, which costs $39.95 per year, provides unlimited storage for subscribers, enabling them to stream their music at 192kbps from any Internet-connected device, and also sync their collection to portable MP3 players. Oboe also offers an iTunes plug-in.
Country Artists to Launch Stations on Motorola iRadioAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:11am.
Schaumburg, Ill. - Motorola said on Wednesday that Universal Music Group country music artists including Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Shania Twain and Vince Gill plan to launch individual channels on its forthcoming Motorola iRadio service. Slated to launch in the first quarter of 2006, the iRadio service will provide hundreds of pre-programmed, commercial-free radio stations streamed to cell phones. Listeners will also be able to purchase albums and concert tickets via their cell phones.
Sirius Signs NBA Coach Phil Jackson to Host Weekly Radio ShowAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:09am.
New York - Sirius Satellite Radio, a provider of subscription radio programming, announced on Wednesday that it has signed former L.A. Lakers and Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson to host a weekly sports show on Sirius. Debuting on Dec. 5, "The Phil Jackson Show" will include a mix of basketball talk and interviews.
PassAlong Networks to Power Varsity Media Group P2P Music ServiceAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:08am.
Franklin, Tenn. - PassAlong Networks, a provider of peer-to-peer file-sharing technology, announced on Wednesday that it will power the teen-focused Varsity Media Group's new digital music offering. The VTracks service will offer users a library of 1.1 million songs for download over a legal peer-to-peer network.
PenguinRadio Launches Standalone Internet Radio ReceiverAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:06am.
Chesapeake Beach, Md. - Following nearly six years of development, PenguinRadio said on Wednesday that it has released its new Internet radio, which works without a PC. The company teamed with Netherlands-based Solutions Radio on its standalone Internet radio appliance, designed to stream Internet radio and podcasts. The radios were originally designed in the Netherlands for church-goers who wanted to listen to daily sermons, but were unable to navigate the complexity of a personal computer and streaming media. Users plug in the radios to their home network, office LAN or regular telephone line and connect to the company's database of streaming radio sites.
Mediaport to Offer EMI Song Downloads from MusicATM KiosksAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:05am.
New York - Mediaport Entertainment, a developer of digital entertainment kiosks that let consumers purchase and download songs directly to MP3 players, announced on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to offer tracks from major label EMI through its kiosks. Users of MediaATMs, located at nearly 40 universities, 15 military bases and several retailers, will be able to purchase select albums or create compilations of EMI artists, which can then be burned onto CD by the kiosk or downloaded directly to MP3 players.
On Command to Provide DirecTV Sunday NFL Ticket in Hotel RoomsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:03am.
Denver - On Command, a provider of in-room interactive entertainment to hotels, announced on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with DirecTV, to offer the satellite TV provider's NFL Sunday Ticket programming package in On Command hotel rooms. The service lets viewers choose to view any live Sunday NFL game, subject to normal market blackouts. Denver-based On Command also offers ESPN's GamePlan college football and Full Court college basketball games services.
M-Qube to Sell "Sesame Street"-Themed Ringtones, WallpapersAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:01am.
New York - Mobile entertainment and applications provider m-Qube announced on Wednesday that it has launched a Web-based mobile store featuring Sesame Street-themed ringtones, wallpapers and other content. Ringtones based on the show's theme song, in addition to tunes like "Rubber Duckie" and "People in Your Neighborhood" are available for between $2.00 and $2.50, with proceeds going to help fund educational programs for children around the world.
Teddyfone Introduces Cell Phone for Four-Year-OldsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 8:58am.
London - A U.K.-based company called Teddyfone has launched a teddy-bear shaped mobile phone for four-year-olds. The handset, which is available free of charge, has a button on each paw to speed-dial four numbers, as well as two panic buttons close to each ear. "Faced with the dilemma of whether or not to give your child a mobile phone, for the first time you have a real choice, a child safety phone specifically designed to address the concerns about children's usage of mobile phones," the company said.
Infinium Labs Schedules Board Meeting to Discuss Turnaround PlanAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 8:56am.
Seattle - Infinium Labs, the developer of the oft-delayed Phantom Game Service that last week saw the resignation of CEO Kevin Bachus, announced on Wednesday that it plans to present a turnaround plan to the company's board of directors on Dec. 12. "From my perspective, there are three key areas that the company must focus on. First and foremost is the need to close on funding to launch the Phantom Game Service," said Greg Koler, the company's newly appointed CEO. "At the same time, the company must maintain and reinvigorate its partner and key supplier relationships while efficiently managing its current resources and ongoing operating expenses." Infinium also hopes to soon file forms to regain compliance and enable its shares to resume trading on the Nasdaq.
Disney Online Offers First Downloadable Games for Grown-UpsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 8:54am.
North Hollywood, Calif. - Disney Online on Wednesday announced the launch of Disney's Game Café, the company's first collection of downloadable games targeted at adults aged 25-45. Available for between $9.95 and $19.95 after a free trial, the service will offer game titles including "Diner Dash," "Bejeweled 2," "Zuma" and "Cubis 2 Gold," from publishers including FreshGames, PlayFirst and PopCap Games.
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