register |
login
| search members submit a classified | request a media kit
connecting people & knowledge
ArchivesMorning Links: August 5, 2006Authored by robert on August 4, 2006 - 10:32pm.
 AP: Music Publishers Sue LimeWireOK Go's Treadmill Video Tops 9 Million Downloads WSJ: Satellite Falls as Cable Takes Off AP: AOL likely to Tap Video, IM to Seek Edge Reuters: MTV Finds Growing Hunger for Shows on the Web Engadget: It’s Easier to Bill ISPs than Consumers for ESPN360 AP: Wikipedia Founder Seeks More Quality TechWeb: When MySpace Unavailable, Adult, Dating Sites Get More Traffic TechWeb: CinemaNow Disputes Report of Poor Burn-To-DVD Service NYT: Interview with Adobe’s CEO Gruuve Releases MySpace Music Plug-in Apple Likely to Restate Financial Results Since 2002Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:32pm.
Cupertino, Calif. - Shares of Apple dropped nearly 2% on Friday after the computer and portable music giant said that it will likely need to restate its financial results since late 2002 as a result of irregularities in its stock option grants. Apple had previously said that an internal investigation had revealed irregularities related to the issuance of some stock option grants made between 1997 and 2001. Now, however, the company said that it has discovered more problems that will force it to restate financial statements and record non-cash charges for compensation expenses. As a result of the investigation, Apple is delaying its quarterly report for the period ended July 1.
Google, Associated Press Reach Licensing Agreement for Online NewsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:31pm.
San Francisco - Google and news organization the Associated Press confirmed this week that they reached a licensing agreement several months ago that allows Google to publish AP news stories on its Web services. Google had already been providing links to AP stories published by newspaper partners through its Google News service; the new agreement goes further, although neither company provided many details to reporters. "It's a licensing agreement that lets us use original AP content in new ways than we have used in the past for Google News," Google spokeswoman Sonya Boralv told Reuters. Financial terms of the licensing agreement were also not disclosed. A lawsuit filed last year by Agence France Presse (AFP) accuses Google of copyright infringement for its lifting of AFP images, headlines and news story snippets for indexing on Google News. Google has maintained that Google News makes "fair use" of AFP and other news organizations' copyright content; the case is due to come before the U.S. District Court in D.C.
tags: Deals | Internet | Licensing | Online Publishing | Content Deals | Google | Portals | News | AP |
Music Retailers Call for Interoperable Digital Rights ManagementAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:28pm.
Marlton, N.J. - The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), a trade group of music and entertainment retailers, this week released a statement calling for interoperable digital rights management (DRM) systems for online music retailers. The statement was aimed indirectly at Apple, whose iTunes Store prevents consumers from listening to purchased songs on devices other than its own iPods. "If consumers are discouraged by compatibility constraints and conflicts, we fear they will be less inclined to purchase more music and other digital entertainment content, and may instead choose illegal options," the statement reads. "While necessary, DRM systems and standards should not compromise these experiences and erode the very consumer confidence that is essential to achieving the full potential of digital delivery." NARM's members, who include Best Buy, Wal-Mart wholesalers and Borders, account for 85% of the music sold in the U.S. The NARM statement further urged the content and hardware communities to investigate new alternatives to current DRM if compatibility cannot be achieved.
Apple Refutes Norwegian Watchdog Claims That iTunes is UnfairAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:26pm.
Oslo, Norway - Apple has denied charges made by Norway's Consumer Council that the company breached some of the country's laws with the restrictive terms of its iTunes Music Store, according to published reports. The Council formally complained to Apple that consumers should be able to play songs purchased on iTunes on any MP3 player. In a reply to the Council this week from Apple, the company agreed it should more clearly indicate to Norwegian consumers that iTunes songs will only play on iPods, but rejected claims that the practice was unfair. "It's very difficult to see how locking consumers into the iPod is preserving the rights of any given artist...It's just not replying to (the complaint). Apple is trying to 'smoke screen' it away," Torgeir Waterhouse, senior adviser at the Norwegian Consumer Council, told CNET News.com. The Council has yet to make a final decision, but may choose to impose a fine on Apple or shut down its iTunes Store in Norway. Apple has faced similar claims of unfair competition from France and several other Scandinavian countries.
Second Rejected TV Pilot Surfaces on Video-Sharing SitesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:24pm.
Los Angeles - The pilot for a TV show developed for but rejected by Fox has become the second such program to surface on video-sharing sites like YouTube in recent weeks, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Since the pilot for "The Adventures of Big Handsome Guy and His Little Friend" -- to which Fox owns the copyrights -- appeared on video-sharing sites, some have complied with cease-and-desist letters sent by Fox asking that they remove the video. Keith Richman, CEO of video-sharing site Break.com, told THR he estimates the "Handsome" pilot has been streamed 250,000 times since it was uploaded on Saturday. Another pilot called "Nobody's Watching," which was rejected by the WB, was posted on YouTube last month and generated enough traffic and praise from online viewers that it was picked up by NBC Universal. Warner Bros. took another route with its pilot for a series called "Aquaman" for the CW, posting it for sale on Apple's iTunes Store.
SanDisk to Team With Toshiba on New $5 Billion Japanese PlantAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:21pm.
Milpitas, Calif. - Japanese electronics giant Toshiba said on Friday that it will team with Milpitas, Calif.-based SanDisk to build a new $5.2 billion flash memory plant in Japan. The companies have jointly operated a Japanese plant for the past year, but said that rapid growth in the flash memory market from the proliferation of products such as MP3 music players and mobile phones has necessitated a larger facility. The new facility, to be known as Fab 4, is expected to be operational by late 2007, with an initial capacity of 2,500 wafers a month. By late 2008, the companies said that the plant will be able to produce 67,500 wafers a month.
Amp'd Mobile Gets $7.5 Million From Telus; Service to Launch in CanadaAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:20pm.
Vancouver - Amp'd Mobile, a virtual mobile network operator that offers a youth-targeted, entertainment-focused phone service, announced on Friday that it has partnered with Canadian telco Telus to sell Amp'd-branded services in Canada. As part of the agreement, Vancouver-based Telus Ventures has made a $7.5 million equity investment in the company. Los Angeles-based Amp'd has deals to distribute mobile entertainment content from over 200 firms, including MTV and Universal Music Group, to its subscribers. The Canadian Amp'd service is expected to launch in early 2007.
tags: Deals | Mobile | Mobile Deals | Amp'd Mobile | Telecom | MVNO | Canada | Telus | Investments |
CEA to Launch Technology & Engineering Emmy AwardsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:18pm.
Arlington, Va. - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences said that the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will feature the first annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards. The awards will honor achievements in broadcast, cable and satellite distribution, as well as advanced media technology, which includes interactive TV, gaming technology, the Internet, cell phones and personal media players. The event will open CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, which takes place in Las Vegas on Jan. 8-11.
MTV Video Music Awards Adds Two Video Game CategoriesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:17pm.
New York - MTV Networks this week announced nominations for its 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, which this year include two new categories for "Best Video Game Soundtrack" and "Best Video Game Score." The nominees in the soundtrack category include "Fight Night Round 3" (Electronic Arts); "Burnout Revenge" (Electronic Arts); "NBA 2K6" (2K Games); "Driver: Parallel Lines" (Atari); and "Marc Ecko's Getting Up" (Atari). Composers nominated for best game score include Jesper Kyd ("Hitman: Blood Money"); Tom Salta ("Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter"); Even "Magnet" Johansen ("Dreamfall: The Longest Journey"); Jeremy Soule ("Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion"); and the players who created the user-generated soundtrack to Nintendo's "Electroplankton." Gamers can vote online for their favorites at Gametrailers.com and Xfire.com.
Yahoo, MasterCard Partner for Online Music PromotionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:15pm.
Santa Monica, Calif. - Yahoo Music announced on Friday that it has partnered with MasterCard on a promotion that will offer cardholders a free year of Yahoo Music Unlimited when they purchase a year's subscription to the service. Yahoo and MasterCard also said they will continue to develop additional seasonal promotions.
tags: Internet | Marketing | Payments | Music | Yahoo | Commerce | Promotions | Brands | Portals | Mastercard |
Musiwave, Actimagine Develop Full-Motion Video RingtonesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:13pm.
Paris - Musiwave, a provider of mobile music services, announced on Friday that it partnered with French video compression developer Actimagine to launch a line of full-motion video mobile phone ringtones. Musiwave previously offered Pictones, which combine songs with an animated image slideshow; the new offering upgrades Pictones to full-motion video. Musiwave's new full-video Pictones have launched with wireless carrier Vodafone Italy, and are expected to expand to additional carriers this year.
tags: Mobile | Mobile Music | Music | Ringtones | Musiwave | Actimagine | Mobile Video | Video Ringtones |
Maxum Games, Marvel to Publish "Demons of Mercy" Comic, Xbox 360 TitleAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:12pm.
Denver - Video game developer Maxum Games has announced that it is developing a new Xbox 360 title, "Demons of Mercy," and debuted a new comic series based on the game by author R.H. Stavis. Colorado-based Maxum said the comic will be distributed by Marvel Comics.
Electronic Arts Details Development of "FIFA 07," "Medal of Honor: Heroes"Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:10pm.
Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts on Friday announced that it will release "FIFA 07" in North America on Oct. 3. Developed by EA Canada, the game will be offered for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, DS, Game Boy Advanced, PSP, the PC and mobile phones. Separately, EA announced plans to publish "Medal of Honor: Heroes" for the Sony PSP, its first title from the franchise for the handheld. Developed by EA Canada in conjunction with EA Los Angeles, the game is slated to ship in the fall of 2006.
Sony Adds Five PlayStation 2 Titles to "Greatest Hits" SeriesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:09pm.
Foster City, Calif. - Sony Computer Entertainment America on Friday added five new titles to the PlayStation 2 "Greatest Hits" program, which discounts top-selling titles for the console. "SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs," "Shadow of the Colossus," "Ratchet: Deadlocked," "Jak X: Combat Racing" and "Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves" will join over 160 other titles that now sell for $19.99.
2K Games Ships "Dungeon Siege II" PC Expansion PackAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:08pm.
New York - 2K Games, a unit of publisher Take-Two Interactive, on Friday shipped its "Broken World" expansion pack for the PC roleplaying game "Dungeon Siege II" to retailers. The pack was developed by Gas Powered Games.
Washington Post: U.S., Antigua Tussle at WTO Over 'Net GamblingAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2006 - 12:02pm.
Washington - The Washington Post on Friday reported on the ongoing dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) between the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda and the U.S. over Internet gambling. After the U.S. cracked down on offshore online casino operators in 2002, the island nation filed a complaint at the WTO, claiming U.S. laws prohibiting Internet gambling violated international trade accords. Antigua won an initial ruling in 2004, which said the U.S. must either ban all forms of online gambling -- Americans can currently wager on horses online -- or allow offshore sites to accept wagers from U.S. citizens. However, the U.S. may simply choose to ignore the ruling, in which case Antigua plans to ask the WTO for the right to copy and export U.S. DVDs and CDs as a form of sanction.
Buzz Watch: Talladega Nights and Sacha Baron CohenAuthored by Jay Baage on August 4, 2006 - 11:20am.
 Will Farrell’s latest movie “ Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby ”, that premiers today Friday, has gathered unusually good reviews for an outrageous comedy and is currently number 3 on the Yahoo! Buzz index for movies and moving up (+11% today). The Sony Pictures website has a feature that allows you to create your own movie poster, but as you can see, the result is so-so (maybe it’s because of my picture)… |
Upcoming DMW Events
Jan. 9, 2009 | Las Vegas www.digitalmediainsider.com 
Feb. 25-26, 2009 | New York www.digitalmusicforum.com Events Calendar Submit a Speaker To receive event updates & announcements: 
DMW 100 Financial Index
NavigationUser loginAds |
Daily Newsletter and NetworkingLatest Top Stories
Latest Briefly Noted
Our Sponsors
PollOur PublicationsOther Ads |
Recent comments
6 hours 20 min ago
6 hours 28 min ago
16 hours 49 min ago
17 hours 41 min ago
1 day 10 hours ago
1 day 13 hours ago
1 day 14 hours ago
2 days 12 hours ago
2 days 15 hours ago
2 days 15 hours ago