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N.Y. Senator Calls for Retail Ban of "Cop-Killer" Video Game "25 to Life"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2005 - 9:01am.
Washington -- Calling the game an "all-time low," U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called on New York retailers not to sell an upcoming video game that enables players to become gang members who shoot and kill police officers. "25 to Life" was developed by Salt Lake City, Utah-based Avalanche Software and is slated for release this summer by U.K.-based publisher Eidos. Schumer, who said games like "25 to Life," "Grand Theft Auto" and "Manhunt" have "lower(ed) the common denominator of decency," also called on Sony and Microsoft to terminate their licensing agreements with Eidos. "Little Johnny should be learning how to read, not how to kill cops," Schumer said. "There is nowhere that the value of the police force is felt more strongly than here in New York, and to sell a video game that denigrates their value is simply unacceptable." Microsoft was quick to defend Eidos, with both companies pointing out to GamesIndustry.biz that the game was not intended for, and will not be marketed to, children under the age of 18. Schumer's targeting of "25 to Life" comes amid a climate where legislators in California, Washington state, Missouri and other municipalities have either tried unsuccessfully to enact bans on the sale of violent games to minors, or have had successful legislation consistently struck down by courts as unconstitutional on First Amendment free speech grounds.
tags: Video Game | N.Y | 25 to Life | Senator | Cop-Killer |

Report: NFL, Wireless Carriers in Talks on Cell Phone Video Clips

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2005 - 8:59am.
New York -- The National Football League (NFL) is in talks with a number of wireless carriers to distribute video clips to cell phones, Reuters reported, citing coverage in SportsBusiness Journal. The NFL is reportedly close to signing a five-year, $200 million agreement with Sprint, which could increase in value to $600 million when factoring in advertising revenue.
tags: Video | Wireless | Reports | NFL | Cell Phone |

"BadApple" Software Adds Podcast Support to Apple's iTunes Player

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2005 - 8:57am.
San Francisco -- A start-up called BadFruit has released a plug-in software application for Apple's iTunes music player program that supports direct downloading of podcast radio programs, CNET News.com reported. The "BadApple" software was released before Apple's planned application that will also support podcasts, due for inclusion in iTunes version 4.9. "BadApple is NOT from the Beatles," the company said in a note on its website. "It's also not from Apple Computer Inc. It's definitely not endorsed or approved by Apple. In fact, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want you to use BadApple." News.com reported that BadFruit appears to have some connection with MP3.com founder and current MP3Tunes.com head Michael Robertson.
tags: Software | Podcast | BadApple | iTunes Player |

Chinese Firm Haier Introduces Ultra-Wideband Wireless HDTV Set

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2005 - 8:56am.
Orlando, Fla. -- Chinese consumer electronics firm Haier Corporation and Freescale Semiconductor on Tuesday introduced what they say is the industry's first Ultra-Wideband-enabled (UWB), high-definition LCD television, which eliminates the need for a connection to a set-top box -- allowing for placement anywhere in the home. The technology is capable of transferring up to 110 Mbps at distances of up to 20 meters. "UWB gives consumers the freedom to place the television anywhere they would like in the room, without requiring a physical connection to a set-top box, digital video recorder or media server," said Haier vice president Yu Zi Da. Haier plans to ship the 37-inch TV and accompanying digital media server in China later this year, and in the U.S. by 2006.
tags: HDTV | Wireless | China | Haier | Ultra-Wideband |

LodgeNet to Offer Widescreen Movies, HDTV in Hotel Rooms

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2005 - 8:54am.
Sioux Falls, S.D. -- LodgeNet, a provider of interactive TV and broadband services to hoteliers, announced on Tuesday that it signed a number of agreements to begin offering widescreen format movies and premium high-definition programming in the hotels it serves. The company said its implementation of LG Electronics' Pro:Idiom content protection technology helped cement the agreements, which will bring widescreen Hollywood films to its systems. LodgeNet said that DirecTV, HD Net and K2 Communications will provide high-definition programming. DirecTV will provide channels like HDNet Movies, ESPN HD and Universal HD, while K2 will bring on-demand, high-definition IMAX film titles to LodgeNet systems. Separately, South Dakota-based LodgeNet said it currently working with Movielink, a studio-backed Internet video-on-demand venture, to enable movie downloads to guests' laptop computers over its interactive TV and broadband access systems.
tags: HDTV | Movies | LodgeNet | Widescreen | Hotel Rooms |