Have you ever thought to yourself, “Boy, I wish I could tweet my support for this political decision, but I just can’t think of the right words to show my appreciation for this idea?” Is the notion of typing 140 characters to register your approval of a bill headed to Congress too daunting a task? If so, then help is at hand, as the …
internet
Xbox Signs Up 50 Streaming Partners, Can Even Replace Your Cable Box
Move over, Netflix; you’ve been replaced as the king of streaming television with Microsoft’s announcement of new partnerships for Xbox 360 with 50 international content providers, including HBO—the one “get” that Netflix has never quite managed.
The company’s announcement yesterday means that Xbox LIVE will soon be streaming live …
Kickstarter in Legal Battle with Former ‘Journey’ Musician (No, Really)
Kickstarter has made a name for itself by giving all manner of artists a chance to afford to fulfill their ambitions through the wonders of crowdsourcing, but now the start-up is facing an unexpected legal battle over whether or not it can do so without infringing on a patent owned by a former member of Journey and Phish, of all …
Hulu vs. Netflix: Who Will Get ‘Arrested’?
The announcement of a new season of Arrested Development is good news for fans of the show—those who know that Jason Bateman deserves better than co-starring in an all-male version of Freaky Friday. It’s also potentially good news for Hulu and Netflix. Or, I should say, Hulu or Netflix, as the two companies may be about to find …
Siri: Can Apple Sell the Concept of Natural Language Computing?
One of the main iPhone 4S features touted by Apple during yesterday’s announcement was the phone’s built-in Siri feature. Siri is a virtual personal assistant with additional dictation features that lets you accomplish various tasks simply by speaking to your phone.
If it sounds like a familiar concept, it is. Similar apps have …
Are Companies Being Anti-Social with Twitter and Facebook?
The problem with most corporate social media strategies, according to one expert, is that they’re just not social enough, they’re actually anti-social, and that that will lead to “social blindness” and a downturn in overall brand loyalty if left unchecked.
Brian Solis, a new media analyst from Altimeter, believes that corporate social …
Yahoo! Screen: Your New TV on the Internet
Not content with simply partnering with ABC News yesterday for a revamped news service that includes multiple new web series, Yahoo continues to recreate itself with the launch of Yahoo! Screen, a new video hub that turns the internet into something closer to television, with multiple channels filled with thousands of videos and …
Digital Publishers, Booksellers Face Multiple Pricefixing Suits
If the price of digital books has ever struck you as seeming too high, you’re not alone. Digital booksellers and major book publishers alike are facing no less than 17 class action lawsuits alleging digital price fixing.
The initial lawsuit, against Apple and five publishers, was filed in California in August, and followed the next …
Patent Troll Sues Businesses that Offer Wi-Fi; Individuals Safe for Now
A patent troll who could potentially sue any Wi-Fi user is broadening its attack to include hotels, but is leaving individual users alone for now.
The firm, Chicago-based Innovatio IP Ventures, has already sued department stores, restaurants and coffee shop chains for offering Wi-Fi to their customers. The next wave of lawsuits …
TV Shows Make Up at Least Half of Netflix Streaming Now
Netflix may dominate the streaming video market, but there’s some surprising good news for Hulu from the MIPCOM conference in Cannes. The streaming video audience seems to be moving firmly in the direction of catching up on television rather than watching movies. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos revealed the information at the …
Yahoo Partners with ABC for New Online News Organization
Yahoo’s long-term future may still be uncertain, but the company has today announced a partnership that suggests it’ll be just fine in the short-term. According to an announcement this morning, Yahoo is forming a strategic alliance with ABC News for online news programming designed specifically for the internet.
The partnership …
Facebook Sued Over ‘Timeline’ by Timelines.com
Facebook may have Don Draper pitching its new timeline interface in fan-made viral videos, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll roll out to universal acclaim. Or, in fact, that it will necessarily roll out at all.
Timelines, a Chicago-based website that offers users the chance to “collaboratively record, discover and share history” has …