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Google Enters Internet Broadcasting Market With “Everybody Hates Chris”
Posted by Devin Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment, Internet,
Pretty soon, anyone with a connection to the internet will have the ability to view their favorite American and British television shows from Google. The search engine giant, whose numerous other ventures include Gmail and Google Talk, has already penned a deal with UPN to broadcast some of it’s shows, and talks are now in the works with the BBC. Though users won’t be able to save the shows on their computer, they will have the ability to pause, rewind, and fast forward thru any of the content stored on Google’s servers. So what’s the first show to be offered up as Google makes it’s way into internet broadcasting? Chris Rock’s new show, “Everbody Hates Chris”.
Read More 
| This Is Money
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At this moment, 70% of the world music market is controlled by the Big Four. For those who aren’t very record label concious, we’re talking about EMI, Warner, Sony/BMG and Universal. What that means to you, or any other person who listens to the radio at some point in their day, is that those 4 companies have a huge influence over what you hear. While that may be a depressing thought, hear this: many in the recording industry, including the aforementioned labels, believe that the power balance is quickly changing. The rejuvination of independent labels, along with the all the internet has to offer(podcasts, downloads, file sharing, and piracy, to name a few) are helping to create a shift in power.
In theory, the whole development of the market digitally should be to the benefit of independents. Online, people are more likely to download catalogue, they’re more likely to download lesser-known bands - and that’s good for independents.
Read More | BBC News
Opera To Release Opera Mini Worldwide Within Next Few Months
Posted by Devin Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Internet, Software,
In August, Opera Software launched it’s Opera Mini browser in a limited release - only users of Norway’s TV2 were allowed downloading privledges. All that could change soon according to Eskil Sivertsen, public relations manager for Opera software. Is seems that due to the ” fantastic response from content providers, operators, handset manufacturers and end-users worldwide” the software company is hoping to give Opera Mini a worldwide release by the end of 2005. The Opera Mini browser allows users to view any HTML page from the convienience of their cell phone, allowing users to break away from WAP browsers that limit surfing experiences to WAP only pages. Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter Research says, “I was able to hit every HTML site I threw at it including heavy lifting sites like the NY Times. This is a really big breakthrough for the mobile space.” Soon enough, y’all will be able to read content off Gear Live, or even post to the forums, from anywhere your phone gets a signal!
Read More | Opera Blog
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Google Takes Firefox Toolbar Out Of Beta, Adds New Features
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Software,
Google has improved its Firefox toolbar and taken it out of beta for it’s official release. As an improvment to the toobar, users are now able to arrange icons they see fit. They have also added Google Suggest, which shows related search suggestions as you are typing in the Toolbar search box. I can’t remember the last time a Google product actually came out of beta.
Read More | Google Blog
Opera Sees 1 Million Downloads Of Its Browser In Only Two Days
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Software,
Since removing all ads from its browser, Opera Software has seen over one million downloads of its desktop browser in only two days, breaking the previous record set in April when the company released Opera 8. Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera Software says, “The success of our free browser proves the world is ready for a fresh option. I’m most excited about the hundreds of thousands of new users who have discovered the speed, security and usability of our browser for the first time.” Still, it’s a long way to go to catch up to the ‘Fox.
Read More | Neowin
Verizon FIOS TV Is A Go
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment, Internet,
The next phase of the Verizon FIOS service has been opened up, as FIOS TV has been made available in some areas of Texas. Looking at the offering, Verizon is continuing to provide a great value for the money, much the same way that they have done with their Internet service, providing an enormous selection of digital and Video-On-Demand channels.
FiOS TV subscribers will enjoy 100 percent digital programming, as well as access to a large selection of video-on-demand content. Expanded Basic delivers more than 180 video and music channels for $39.95 a month. This tier includes access to 600 on-demand titles now, with 1,800 by year end. This service requires a standard-definition set-top box or a high-definition set-top box for HD channels. Verizon offers three set-top boxes: standard definition for $3.95 per month; high definition, which includes HD channels, for $9.95 per month; and a digital video recorder set-top box with HD channels for $12.95 per month.
FIOS TV should hit California, Florida, and Virginia by the end of 2005.
Firefox Hits 90,000,000 Downloads
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Software,
The folks over at SpreadFirefox are announcing that the browser has reached the 90,000,000 download mark. Now, that is great and all, but what it doesn’t tell you is how many unique users have downloaded the browser. That is a figure that would be interesting. I, for one, have downloaded Firefox at least thirty times with the release of new versions and having multiple PCs. Still, it is a nice number to see.
On September 20, 2005 at 4:33:58 EST or 9:33:58 GMT Firefox Reached 90,000,000 Downloads! Only 10 Left and if we can get in before Nov. 9th then we would have 1,000,000 Downloads on the first day of 1.0 Release, 10,000,000 Downloads in the first month, and 100,000,000 in the first year!
I must say, since Opera went free, I have been using that way more.
Read More | SpreadFirefox
Dell DJ Ditty Ditty-O’s Are Funny
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Portable Audio / Video,
Here at Gear Live we are big fans of “outside the box” thinking. Dell is rarely a company that impresses us, but this time they have made us chuckle - and that’s worth noticing. In a unique marketing campaign to get the word out on their new Dell DJ Ditty 512 MB flash MP3 player, Dell has created a website full of Dell Ditty-O’s. That is, comedic video segments where they almost poke fun at their player in an all-in-good-fun kind of way. I watched a few, and I must say, they are pretty darned good. Check them out.
(Thanks PoppaSan!)
Read More | Dell DJ Ditty
I knew it was coming. When Opera was offering free registration codes for a day, but didn’t turn off the auto-generating code email address until way after the day was over, I sensed that it was going to become a freeware platform. The day has come, as Opera no longer had any integrated ad banners. I know, Firefox has been all the rage among the Internet elite, but I urge you to try Opera. It is blazingly fast, and just works. I have yet to experience an Opera browser crash, while Firefox blows up three or four times a day for me on both Windows and Mac OS’s.
EDIT: Here is a great wiki chock full o’ Opera tips.
Read More | Opera
Here’s a cool web app that makes recommendations on what you should read based on books you’ve already enjoyed. I tried this myself and got the following results when entering Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:
These are our suggestions based on readers’ recommendations.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3): Adult Edition - J.K. Rowling
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal - Christopher Moore
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - J. K. Rowling, Mary Grandpre
Two of those choices are obvious. Not bad for those always looking for something to read. It gets much better if you register on the site, since it consistently remembers what books you like already.
Read More | What Should I Read Next via Cool Hunting
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