Archive for September, 2008:
Pandora and Other Webcasters Saved By Act of Congress [Web Radio]
Today the otherwise preoccupied Senate quickly passed the Webcaster Settlement Act many of you petitioned for, granting Pandora and other net radio services the right to negotiate royalties with the record industry’s SoundExchange coalition for the years 2006 to 2015. OK, that’s a mouthful—what it means is, they will likely not be driven to bankruptcy due to unreasonable royalty rates.
I say “likely” because they still need to dot i’s and cross t’s on the royalty deal itself, but here, Congress approved their ability to do that, and just in the nick of time.
Pandora chief Tim Westergren told us today: “We’re just hugely grateful to our listeners and everyone who moved so quickly to mobilize support. This last weekend was just extraordinary.” There you go, the world itself may be collapsing, but at least you know our legislators listened to your pleas to keep your favorite web radio broadcasters in business.
DiMA Thanks Congress for Passing Webcaster Settlement Act
Washington, D.C., September 30, 2008 – The U.S. Senate today approved the Webcaster Settlement Act, and sent to the President this bill that authorizes Internet radio services and agents for copyright owners and performers to negotiate new royalty agreements retroactive to 2006, and that could resolve future disputes through 2015.
The House of Representatives passed the bill September 28.
Jonathan Potter, Executive Director of the Digital Media Association, offered this statement:
“On behalf of DiMA and our Internet radio members, I want to thank Congress for acting quickly to pass the Webcaster Settlement Act. This legislation will enable DiMA and our member companies, and all Internet radio services, to continue negotiating royalty rates with SoundExchange for the years 2006-2015. We are very hopeful of reaching agreement soon, and thereby creating long-term stability that will re-energize the Internet radio business.
“We express great thanks to Senators Wyden and Brownback, and Representatives Inslee and Manzullo for sponsoring the Webcaster Settlement Act and also being great leaders of the Internet Radio Equality Act.
“We are also grateful to Chairman Berman, Chairman Conyers and Chairman Leahy, and Ranking Members Smith and Specter for their leadership on the Webcaster Settlement Act and their ongoing support for Internet radio.”
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Glitch Drops Google Stock Price $200 in Four Minutes, Wiping Out $62 Billion [Oops]
At probably like the worst time ever for your stock to plummet harder than a meteor on a collision course with Bruce Willis, a glitch knocked $200 off of Google’s stock acai—that’s half—in the span of four minutes as the markets were closing today. $62 billion. Erased. In four minutes. The glitch has been fixed, bringing it back to the correct acai of $407, but some trades actually did go through at the bargain basement acai. While they’ll be repealed, it shows you that it’s so crazy out there even computers are going nuts right now. [TechCrunch]
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Transformers 2 Will Be Shot in IMAX, Get Ready for Five-Story Transformers [Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen]
Holy crap. Parts of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen are being shot in IMAX, meaning you’ll get to see literally five-story Transformers getting smashed, exploded and all of the usual Michael Bay craziness in the only screen size truly worthy of Michael Bay. Like The Dark Knight, non-IMAX scenes will be letterboxed, and it’ll blow back up to full screen size for IMAX sequences. Man, if there was ever a movie that needed to be in IMAX, this is it.
LOS ANGELES, CA, September 30, 2008 – IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX), DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures today announced that director Michael Bay will shoot key sequences of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with IMAX® cameras. Bay will integrate the IMAX footage with state of the art CGI to create an unprecedented look and feel for the highly anticipated sequel to last year’s box office hit, Transformers. As previously announced, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be released to IMAX® theatres simultaneously with the movie’s wide release on June 26, 2009.
The movie sequences shot in traditional 35mm will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The IMAX DMR scenes will appear in the traditional “letterbox” shape, while scenes shot with IMAX’s cameras will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen.
“The extraordinary level of detail and intensity captured by the IMAX camera creates many exciting possibilities for us with this film,” said Michael Bay, the film’s director. “IMAX’s all-encompassing format will take this story to a new level, and I am once again very excited to share The IMAX Experience with Transformers fans around the world.”
“The addition of another amazing title from DreamWorks and Paramount, combined with more groundbreaking use of IMAX technology by Hollywood’s top filmmakers, are examples of how far we have come as a company and a distribution platform over the past several years,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “The growth of the IMAX theatre network, fueled by the economical benefits of the new IMAX digital system, is driving interest from virtually all of the top studios, which is resulting in more IMAX movies for audiences to enjoy.”
“Michael Bay’s innovative use of IMAX cameras will create a spectacular cinematic adventure for moviegoers next summer,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “We’re very excited to be integrated as a core part of the Transformers production, and with the skilled marketing and distribution teams at DreamWorks and Paramount, the timing is ideal given our expanding global audience and network footprint.”
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Get Your Directions From an Old, Washed Up Character from a Terrible Show [GPS]
While I understand why people would want their GPS navigators to give them directions in the voice of KITT or Mr. T, I have no idea who in their right mind would want Kim Cattrall (the old one) from Sex in the City telling them where to go whenever they drive. Not only will her voice remind you of that horrible show every time you need to make a turn, but it’ll throw in annoying non sequiturs like “This is the city, darling. Anything goes” or “Don’t touch my Manolos” at random times for added irritation. Why, oh god can anyone tell me why? Hit the jump for the full release, if you must.
Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall is Latest Celeb Voice Available For Download on TomTom Portable Navigation Devices
Candid, sassy and always fashionable, Kim Cattrall makes ordinary navigation even sexier
Concord, Mass. – September 30, 2008 – Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall knows how to navigate the streets of New York City, and now she’ll help you navigate around your favorite North American or European city.
In global partnership with Navtones®, Kim Cattrall is the latest celebrity to join the growing line up of celebrity and character voices available for use on devices made by TomTom, the world’s leading navigation solutions provider. Cattrall, known widely for her role as the ever-spontaneous and uninhibited Samantha Jones on the HBO hit series Sex and the City, adds some spice to the ride, allowing drivers a fun and unforgettable journey.
“Putting my voice on GPS systems is such a unique way for me to reach out and connect with my fans,” Cattrall said. “I am thrilled to be able to entertain my fans by giving them turn-by-turn directions to make their trips more fun and exciting.”
On the road, Cattrall throws some candid, sassy and sexy advice to help drivers find their way. For example, in addition to saying, “At the end of the road turn left” or “Take the second right,” Cattrall also lets drivers know what she is really thinking, saying “This is the city, darling. Anything goes” or “Don’t touch my Manolos,” leaving drivers wondering, “What will she say next?”
“Celebrity voice downloads are one of the many features TomTom offers to our customers to personalize their driving experience,” said Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. “With Kim Cattrall’s voice helping them to navigate their trip, TomTom customers will not only travel safely and with less stress, but will also be amused along the way.”
TomTom portable navigation devices guide drivers with audible, turn-by-turn instructions and 3D maps and work right out of the box and with no additional fees or services required.
TomTom’s portable navigation devices offer 70 preloaded voices in 36 languages, and now drivers can have Kim Cattrall navigate them to any location, including specific points of interest. Cattrall’s voice is available for download immediately for $12.95 and €9.95. Go to http://www.tomtom.com/plus/services/voices.php or TomTom HOME to see and hear a complete list of voices and easy-to-download instructions.
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Punching Bag Changes Color Just Like a Video Game Boss [Clips]
Remember playing something like TMNT arcade, and Bebop and Rocksteady would grow increasingly red, tempting you to throw in quarter after quarter because every moment seemed like the moment they would be defeated? This punching bag works under the same philosophy, though it turns from red to a sickly yellow, as if your opponent is leaking bile or slowly wetting all of their clothing. Also, it lights up where you punch it, making it appear* that you have lightning powers.
* Sorry, your mom wanted us to tell you that you never had lightning powers. Also, she said that you owed her $5 from that time you borrowed money to beat Rocksteady and started crying because your lightning powers weren’t helping. [stefangross via boingboing]
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Did Palin’s Witch-Hunting Minister Put A Hex On Gwen Ifill?
Ifill, the moderator of Thursday’s VP debate suffers a broken ankle while at home just two days before the big night?
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See The Invisible
I found secrets Hidden in 100 buck
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Why the Web Fails To Please the Eye and Brain
One of the worst habits of Web designers is to “prettify” sites with digital animations created by Flash software. Think of how many times you’ve logged off Web sites because you’ve been locked into a seemingly endless (and irritating) animation. That’s Flash. It was fashionable in the late 1990s, but now simplicity is in favor.
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New York Yankees Media Relations:"We don’t care about blogs"
Sadly, as soon as I said the word “blog” I was looked upon as a mere fan, instead of the purveyor of information that this website has become.
Tags: info, information, pic, photo, scoop, gif, pics, jpg, dirt, pictures
New Atlas to Reveal Landscape & Undiscovered Sites in 3-D
New methods developed at the University of Arkansas will make decades-old satellite imagery readily available to archaeologists and others who need to know what a landscape looked like before the spread of cities and agriculture.
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