Archives

Date

Apple Sold 14 Million iPods in Fourth Quarter, 42 Million to Date

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:27am.
San Francisco - Apple has now sold more than 42 million iPod digital music and video players worldwide -- including 14 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 -- beating the expectations of industry analysts, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. Apple CEO Steve Jobs made the announcement during his keynote address at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco, during which he also stated that the company's iTunes Music Store has now sold 850 million song downloads and commands 83% of the legal music download market.
tags: iPod | Apple | Business |

E! Networks to Launch Broadband Entertainment Channel

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:22am.
Pasadena, Calif. - E! Networks, the entertainment news and programming channel co-owned by Comcast and Disney, announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch a broadband entertainment channel next week, Reuters reported. "The Vine @ E Online" will offer streaming video of E! TV programming, such as its upcoming "#1 Single" reality series, in addition to celebrity interviews and original programs developed for the Web. The broadband channel will launch during the network's annual coverage of the Golden Globe Awards telecast, offering an online simulcast of its "red carpet" coverage in addition to online-exclusive highlights. The Vine will also distribute its online content in formats for mobile devices and to satellite radio subscribers.
tags: TV | E! Networks | Broadband Entertainment Channel |

Levi's RedWire DLX Jeans to Feature Special iPod Pocket, Remote Control

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:18am.
San Francisco - Apparel maker Levis Strauss has announced that it plans in August to introduce a line of blue jeans that features a special iPod pocket, joystick remote control, docking station and headphones for Apple's portable digital music player. The Levi's RedWire DLX Jeans, to sell for about $200, will feature "a crisp white leather patch and joystick, bluffed back pockets with hidden stitching, and clean minimalist buttons and rivets," and will be machine washable once the iPod is removed from its special pocket.
tags: iPod | Levis | Levi's RedWire DLX Jeans | Special iPod Pocket | Remote Control |

Casual Games Publisher PlayFirst Raises $5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:15am.
San Francisco - PlayFirst, a publisher of casual games to a network of over 450 gaming and other websites, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $5 million in its second round of venture capital financing. Rustic Canyon Partners led the investment round; previous investors Mayfield Venture Partners and Trinity Ventures also participated. San Francisco-based PlayFirst provides independent casual game developers with funding to create titles, which the company then distributes across multiple platforms to portals, retail outlets and other destinations. The funds will be used to expand PlayFirst's roster of games, to rollout new technologies and to increase global distribution of its titles.
tags: Games | PlayFirst | Deal | Games Publisher |

Web-based Ad Agnecy Spot Runner Raises $10 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:11am.
San Mateo, Calif. - Spot Runner, an Internet-based advertising agency, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $10 million in a round of venture capital financing, co-led by Battery Ventures and Index Ventures. Comerica Bank's Technology and Life Sciences Division also participated in the investment round. Los Angeles-based Spot Runner's Web-based service allows businesses to air personalized television ads in their local markets.
tags: Internet | Deal | Spot Runner | Ad Agency |

Patent Application Hints Apple May Add FM Transmitter to iPod

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:09am.
San Francisco - A recent patent application from Apple Computer hints that the company may be looking to build FM transmitter technology into its iPod digital music players, CNET News.com reported. The application (No. 20050286481) is for technology that could wirelessly play iPod files on FM radio signals, through a car radio or boombox, in addition to technology that would deliver artist and song title information from the iPod back to the receiver. The move could elbow out iPod accessory makers such as Belkin and Griffin, which make popular FM transmitters for the iPod.
tags: iPod | Apple | FM | Transmitter |

Rolls-Royce Adds Sirius Radio as Standard Feature on All U.S. Vehicles

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:07am.
New York - Sirius Satellite Radio, a subscription radio service with 3 million subscribers, said on Wednesday that Rolls-Royce will offer Sirius radios as standard equipment on all vehicles it sells in the U.S. The luxury automaker will also include a lifetime subscription to the $12.95 per month Sirius service.
tags: Radio | Sirius | U.S | Vehicles | Rolls-Royce |

U.K. Online DVD Rental Firm Lovefilm Buys Screenclick for $3.6 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:06am.
Dublin - According the Irish Times, Lovefilm, a U.K.-based online DVD rental firm, has acquired Ireland-based Screenclick.com for about $3.6 million. Screenclick, which has more than 15,000 registered users in Ireland, will be rebranded as Lovefilm.ie. Screenclick founder and CEO Frank O'Grady will remain as CEO of Lovefilm.ie. Lovefilm said it planned to launch a video-on-demand service in Ireland sometime next month. The company has also worked with Intel to make the service compatible with Intel's new Viiv platform for the home entertainment market.
tags: VC | Lovefilm | Deal | Online DVD Rental | Screenclick |

AtomShockwave Renamed Atom Entertainment

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:06am.
San Francisco - AtomShockwave, a distributor of short films and online games, announced on Wednesday that it has changed the name of the company to Atom Entertainment. The company said the name change was spurred by recent acquisitions and the creation of a new video directory and advertising network. San Francisco-based Atom Entertainment operates the games sites Shockwave.com and AddictingGames, and the video sites AtomFilms and AddictingClips. The company recently acquired the online games portal AddictingGames, and launched an in-game ad network for Shockwave.com.
tags: Atom Entertainment | AtomShockwave |

The Orchard to Distribute Digital Tracks for SST Records

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:04am.
New York - The Orchard, a distributor of digital music for independent labels, announced on Wednesday that it has signed a distribution deal with SST Records, home to hardcore bands including Black Flag, Descendents, Bad Brains and the Minutemen. Tracks from 94 SST albums will be offered exclusively on the eMusic digital music service for the next two weeks, before they are additionally offered through Orchard partners including iTunes, Napster, MSN Music and Rhapsody.
tags: The Orchard | Records | SST | Digital Tracks |

Russian Download Store LegalSounds Launches Affiliate Program

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:01am.
Moscow - LegalSounds, a Russia-based digital music store that sells 14-cent song downloads, on Wednesday announced the launch of an affiliate partner program, where websites can earn a 35% commission on sales they generate. While the site may be legal in Russia, it's unclear whether its terms have been approved by record labels or whether proceeds from the site reach artists and copyright holders.
tags: Russia | Download | Program | LegalSounds | Affiliate |

Ruckus Signs Michigan State to Campus Media Download Service

Authored by dmw on January 11, 2006 - 3:58am.
Herndon, Va. - Ruckus, a provider of legal campus music and media download services, said on Wednesday that it has signed Michigan State University as a new client. Under the deal, Ruckus will provide a campus-wide multimedia network for the school's 45,000 students, faculty and staff. William Raduchel, the chairman and CEO of Ruckus, is an alumnus of Michigan State.
tags: Deals | Ruckus | Michigan | Download | Campus | Media |

Mag Rack to Offer "Guitar Xpress Presents" VOD Showcase

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 3:57am.
New York - Mag Rack, a video-on-demand network owned by Rainbow Media, on Wednesday announced a new 12-part series, "Guitar Xpress Presents," that will offer interviews and live performances each month from artists including Les Paul, Trey Anastasio and the Spin Doctors. The on-demand series is slated to debut on Jan. 12 with a program featuring the Bacon Brothers.
tags: VOD | Mag Rack | Guitar Xpress Presents |

OpenTV to Provide Interactive TV Software to India's Essel Group

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 3:55am.
San Francisco - OpenTV, a provider of interactive TV software and services, announced on Thursday that it has signed a multi-year license agreement with Essel Group, India's largest cable and satellite TV operator. Under the deal, OpenTV will provide the Dish TV satellite service and Siticable cable TV service with technology to enable interactive program guides and digital video recording to their combined 7.5 million subscribers.
tags: TV | Software | India | OpenTV | Essel Group |

Pace Micro to Provide Digital Set-top Boxes to Sky Italia

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 3:54am.
Saltaire, England - Set-top box maker Pace Micro Technology announced on Wednesday that News Corp.'s Sky Italia satellite TV service will deploy Pace's 160GB digital video recorder set-tops to its 3.4 million subscribers.
tags: Pace Micro | Digital | Set-top Boxes | Sky Italia |

Electronic Arts Mobile Titles to Sell Through Amp'd Mobile

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 3:52am.
Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts announced that it has signed an agreement to distribute 15 of its mobile game titles through Amp'd Mobile, an entertainment-focused mobile network operator. Amp'd subscribers will have access to games including "FIFA 06," "Madden NFL 06" and "Need for Speed Underground 2" through a dedicated EA mobile games channel. Separately, Redwood City, Calif.-based EA announced that it plans to ship "Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover" for the Sony PSP in the spring of 2006. The game is a prequel to "Def Jam Vendetta," EA's fighting game collaboration with hip-hop record label Def Jam that features rappers as characters in the game.
tags: Amp'd Mobile | Electronic Arts | Titles | Mobiles |

Infinium Labs Names Greg Koler as New President and CEO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 3:51am.
Seattle - Infinium Labs, the developer of a long-delayed broadband PC-based video game console, announced on Wednesday that it has named Greg Koler as president and CEO, replacing former Xbox head Kevin Bachus, who resigned as CEO of Infinium after less than four months on the job. Koler, who was serving as interim CEO of Infinium, previously worked at game publisher TDK Mediactive and Gemstar-TV Guide International. "Our business operations plan has been revitalized and a more efficient production, sales and distribution platform established to activate our launch program in 2006," said Infinium's Richard Angelloti.
tags: Infinium Labs | CEO | President | Greg Koler |

Ubisoft to Develop Games Based on Upcoming "Ninja Turtles" Movie

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 3:50am.
New York - French video game publisher Ubisoft announced on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with 4Kids Entertainment, to develop and publish games based on the upcoming feature-length "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" animated film. Ubisoft said console game titles will be released in early 2007, alongside the theatrical release of the Imagi Animation Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures film.
tags: Games | Movies | Ubisoft | Ninja Turtles |

CNET News.com: "The Performer" Offers Automatic Guitar Tuning

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 3:48am.
San Francisco - CNET News.com on Wednesday reported on The Performer, an automatic tuning technology for electric guitars used by performers including Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Eddie van Halen and Pat Metheny. Developed by Neil Skinn, the $3,400 system is installed directly onto a guitar and includes sensors, computer electronics and miniature motors that can accurately and automatically tune a guitar to over 200,000 different tunings in about five seconds.
tags: CNET News.com | The Performer | Guitar | Tuning |