Archives

“….The BBC’s international iPlayer iPad app will cost less than $10 (£6.13) a month when it launches later this year, according to director general Mark Thompson…”

There you go – this year….sometime… Still, for all those expats out there, having BCC content for less than $10 a month is a great price point, especially if the content is not rebranded or reformatted - as it sometimes is. While we’ll wait for more details, the pending make-or-break issue still remains, the release window for TV shows and movies. How will they be released across multiple channels before iplayer customers get their hands on that fine content? We shall see.

Source: Guardian.co.uk

Source: YouTube.com

If you can’t coerce them, buy them. Looks like more ex-google people are heading towards Facebook. TechCrunch is reporting that Facebook has acquired Beluga group Messaging. It looks like the acquisition was for software and the team behind the app, so this could be a hint as to future social group messaging features Facebook might be looking into.

Source: Electronista.com

If Twitter can predict the stock market’s movement, then why can’t FourSquare predict the Oscars? The above mentioned infographic is based on locational data collected by FourSquare during the 2010 calendar year – in terms of movies and individuals. Have it handy during Sunday’s festivities!

Source: FourSqaure.com

Where are the doubters now? Android is on the march, kind of like the “Droid Army” in Star Wars: The phantom Menace (No Sith Lord) and what better way to understand this growth than with a visually stunning timeline! Trust me, this is not like your grandpa’s camping trip slideshow. This was posted over at the Android Developer Channel for all our amusement. Enjoy.

Source: Engadget.com

The same day Amazon announced it’s new streaming service for Amazon Prime Members, Netflix counter punches with a 2 year content deal with CBS for shows like Medium, Flashpoint, Frasier, Cheers and StarTrek. While the actual details of the 2 year content deal were not announced, CBS’s back catalog of shows adds to Netflix growing streaming services and hugely overshadows Amazon’s catalog of 5,000 movies/shows.

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, said in a statement. ”Netflix is now the only online premium subscription service with shows featured on all four broadcast networks and dozens of cable TV’s biggest brands.”  Sounds good to us but we would love to see more players in this sector – wink wink Apple and Google. NEXT!!

Source: BGR.com

Do you have $290 million you wanna toss towards a dying business model with archaic consumer products – well then, Blockbuster is for you. After filing for bankruptcy back in the fall 0f 2010 – BB has emerged full of energy and looking to hook up……essentially they want a sugar daddy. So the bottom line is, who is stupid enough to pour money into this black hole of a business?

Netflix and companies like it, that offer audio/video streaming services, are the future. This model allows the consumer to easily access the content they desire at prices they desire. If renting a physical DVD from Blockbuster costs from $3.75-$4.25 and subscribing to Netflix streaming services is $7.99  a month/unlimited streams – you do the math. Good luck BB. NEXT!!

Source: Engadget.com / Image Source: TheNextWeb.com

Image Source: LunchBreath.com

Well, its been less than a week since Apple released the details of its “Subscription Model” for the App Store and we’re hearing that both the Department of Justice and the FTC are looking (preliminary) into Apple’s implementation. As if that wasn’t enough, European regulators have also stated that they are looking into possible anti-competitive practices, in terms of the very same “Subscription Model.” While all three agencies have stated that they are not opening an investigation yet, this pressure might get the boys in Cupertino to think twice about that 30% cut?

On the other hand, does Apple really have anything to fear? They own about 25% of the smartphone market (hardly a monopoly) – They own 75% of the tablet market (large but not really established) but Android has grabbed 22% in less then a year. Android’s success has really enabled Apple to really tighten the ropes, in terms of component supplies and itunes/app store rules – with less fear of regulation. Imagine if Android didn’t exist, Apple would most definitely be under judicial review.

Bottom line: This is just a check in by the DOJ and FTC – nothing will come of it. Apple’s share of both the tablet and smartphone market will slow, as Android, RIMM and “Nokisoft” get their acts together. Plus, Google just announced their version of “Subscription Services” for Android Market – competition. Will Apple sell a ton of phones and tablets this year – sure! Will they expand their mobile strategy - yes! Are they a monopoly – by no means.

Source: Arstechnica.com

Warner Brothers is trying something new – iOS app movies. That’s right, you can download an app movie from itunes and then launch the app to start the movie. So what’s different? Warner says that the movie apps have extra features, such as social media integration (facebook/twitter), extra movie content and best of all, movies available in countries where itunes doesn’t allow itunes movie downloads.

Want to try it out – Batman “The Dark Knight” will run you $9.99 and Inception is $11.99 – still way too expensive WB.

Source: 9To5 Mac.com

The “Big B” had the keynote speech at MWC 2011 and announced some coming features to Windows Phone OS – ones that we’ve all been waiting for. Ballmer admitted that copy and paste would come in the next couple of weeks, while larger features like multitasking (3rd party) and Internet Explorer mobile coming later in the year (Yea, get used to this kind of time frame at MWC).

Other features that will make an appearance this year will be CDMA hardware, overall OS improvements, Twitter integration and skydrive enabling. If Microsoft can schedule these upgrade with possible new Nokia hardware – Windows Phone could get a much needed boost. Speaking of Nokia, not too much additional news was released about Microsoft/Nokia arrangement but word is leaking out that Microsoft paid Nokia billions to place WP7 on their hardware. Seriously though, is Microsoft essentially just putting a down payment on a future Nokia buy out? I think they’ll be a merger in the next 2 to 3 years. NEXT!!

Source: Arstechnica.com

Source: Guardian.com

I really don’t know who to blame here: HP or Palm or Marketing Firms? This is straight out of Palm’s creepy lady ad, which ultimately brought them to their knees. So, either Palm hasn’t learned or Hp has taken a cue from them – not good. Hp, take the keys away from the Palm team when it comes to marketing. Just tell us what you product does better than the competition and stop promising us that the TouchPad will bring world peace! NEXT!!

Source: YouTube.com

Source: YouTube.com

Source: YouTube / Flixist.com

Engadget is reporting that Stephen Elop, Nokia C.E.O and recent best bud of Microsoft is setting his targets high:

“..first priority is beating Android…”

This must be fancy talk for saying, “We wanna compete and win against other companies that share our market.” Elop, meet me at camera 3…..(shifts position). If this is your rally cry, then your General Custer at Little Big Horn. Don’t open your mouth, don’t copy microsoft’s arrogance, don’t say bullshit comments – just execute great-compelling products. Done!

Source: Engadget.com

News Flash: “Sequel to BattleField Earth announced, Earth takes out life insurance policy.”

Image Source: CrunchGear.com

Stefan Gulas is an entrepreneur that could change the face (pedals) of cycling forever! His “eRockit” bicycle is not only a step towards a real mass transit adoption of bicycles but it puts almost all other motorized vehicles to shame. So what’s so different about this “bicycle” – what isn’t. First off, you have to think of it as a cross between a traditional bicycle and an electric motorcycle. You need to pedal to make it move but once you do, it doesn’t just move, it screams! (Check out video below)

Gulas is in the States to shop his idea around, get funding and hopefully move his company to California – then start production. Sounds good to me. The eRockit gets about 45miles on a single charge and has a top speed of 50MPH – crazy right?

Obvously I haven’t had a chance to see the actual eRockit but if I had cash to burn, Gulas would be turning my green backs into euros real fast. Click here for more info.

Source: Techcrunch.com

News Flash: “Hunger strike takes toll on feces throwing monkeys at local zoo.”

Image Source: Web

I am not trying to startle but rather inform. It seems that the technology applied in medical devices such as pace makers and automatic drug releasing implants for human use, are threatened by computer viruses.

The vulnerability of human medical implant devices are caused by a few factors. Typically, these devices don’t have inter-accessibility to the wider realm of the web and the platforms that we are all networked on. But things seem to be changing thanks to devices, R&D, and what may be direct or indirect marketing by some large companies. The fantastic abilities of devices such as the iPhone and software for it are merging these two arenas of main stream technology and medicine. This hazard has been flagged by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJOM, 2010; 362:1164 – 1166) Dr. William Maisel and Tadayoshi Kohno write; “that the complex and sophisticated features of medical devices have created a susceptibility to security breaches that could compromise the performance of such devices and the safety and privacy of patients.” The use of the iPad and its application in the medical management software realm has spread as if it were destined to be in the hands of doctors all along. Simply sated – threats are a concern.

There are drinkers and there are mixers and there are also people that like to mix and drink. Yet, for the rest of us, who just happen not to have a degree in mixology, we need “booze blueprints.” Fabio Rex has made these gorgeous blueprints, in the style of actual architectural prints but for the would be drink mixer. I don’t think it’s going to do too much for me as I’m a beer man but definatly worth checking out – you can see his photostream on flickr here.

Source: Flickr.com

Is your Hotmail account full of spam? Yea, join the club. Microsoft is implementing a new feature for their hotmail service – “Alias Email Addresses.” Here is the idea: Protect your actual hotmail address by making up a new (possibly temporary) email address you can hand out, no strings attached, which has no real relation to your current official address. Confused? Check out the video after the break- it explains everything but bottom line, hotmail should do a better job protecting your account from spam. NEXT!!

Source: BGR.COM

Just rolls off the tongue right? “BMW Peugeot Citroen Electrification” If all goes well, that will be a new conglomerate for battery packs, generators, power electronics and chargers, and software for hybrid systems. Don’t know how their marking will go but if the above picture super-future car is any indication, they’ll do just fine.

“The hybrid components will find their way into vehicles from both BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroen, following the 50-50 equity agreement that was signed on February 1 by the chairman of each company: Norbert Reithofer from BMW AG and Philippe Varin from PSA Peugeot Citroen. Subject to approval by competition authorities, the joint venture is expected to launch its operations in the second quarter of 2011.”

Source: Caradvice.com.au

Want a hit commercial to launch a hot new product, it’s best to go with the whole dirty-back-alley-medical center theme. It’s my fav!! It looks like the new Xperia commercial is trying to get across that you’ll need actual human thumb to play – got mine right here but if I didn’t, I’d for sure ask the guy in the video for help. NEXT!!

Source: YouTube.com