Media consumer, tech enthusiast, and gamer
Samsung now has a way of delivering video and even live TV to on-the-go gadget-aholics: cellphones that get digital signals from local TV broadcasters. Cellphones with the new technology implemented will basically become portable television sets that will have the same reception as TVs with antennas.
Read More “Samsung New Technology: Live TV on Your Cellphone at 170 Miles per Hour” »
The FCC approved AT&T’s $85.8 billion takeover of BellSouth. Not surprisingly, the deal is the largest ever in U.S. telecommunications history. The newly formed company now has a market capitalization of over $220 billion which makes it more than double in size compared to its biggest competitor Verizon.
Read More “AT&T Killing the Cingular Name & Avoiding Net Neutrality” »
Our favorite social news site, Digg, today released a whole slew of new features while silently removing at least one. I say silently because no one seems to have picked up on it. For extensive coverage, check out the official Digg blog, TechCrunch, Read/WriteWeb, Download Squad, or NewTeeVee. Otherwise, read on for a quick summary and the missing feature:
Read More “Digg Adds New Features, Removes One, and Entices YouTubers” »
The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) and the Financial Times report that Sony may introduce a video download service as soon as the first part of 2007. The idea is to target those consumers that are purchasing movies online through iTunes and other services. The downloads will, of course, work nicely with Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP). Movie watching on PlayStation Portables hasn’t really been that popular, but apparently Sony doesn’t want to wait around till it is. As it is, the company is already late in the game.
Wow. The Blogosphere is all a buzz today on what seems to be a battle for which you’re supposed to pick a side. The major stories have to do with YouTube allowing CBS to filter comments on its videos and have them on a separate page (rather than right below the video itself) and the New York Times adding, that is, “surrendering to” social news (meaning, you can submit NYTimes articles directly to Digg, Newsvine, or Facebook from within an article).
Mix that with the lingering rumor that Fox, Viacom, CBS, and NBC might have a YouTube competitor in the works, and you have all sorts of opinions flying!
Read More “Social Content vs. Big Media Content: Do You Have to Pick a Side?” »
So Blockbuster released a holiday promotion yesterday that will let Netflix subscribers rent Blockbuster movies for free. The reaction to the offer is, of course, mixed. Some seem to hate Blockbuster with a passion while others point out Netflix
has its own issues (especially when you are a frequent user). How can we know what to do in a case like this?
I thought we could settle this once and for all using my favorite imperfect method: the poll! Question: I would switch from Netflix to Blockbuster IF:
Read More “Poll: What would make you switch from Netflix to Blockbuster?” »
According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Blockbuster is introducing a holiday promotion that will let Netflix subscribers rent Blockbuster movies for free. Here’s how it works: Netflix members can turn in the tear-off flaps from any red Netflix envelopes for free rentals at any Blockbuster store. The promotion is set to run through December 21.
Read More “Blockbuster Inviting Netflix Customers to Rent Movies From Stores for Free” »
Both Wal-Mart and TiVo had some big news today in the area of trying to commercialize the latest advances in digital media. Wal-Mart released its movie download service with a twist: you have to buy the DVD. But for a few bucks extra, you get a download too. TiVo decided to sell advertising space at the end of recorded programs and track how many people watch them. So the question of the day is:
Which of these new services is more likely to succeed (or fail)?
Read More “Wal-Mart Releasing Movie Downloads Versus TiVo Adding Commercials” »