WSJ.com - Google to Offer Video Downloads, Software That Rivals Microsoft's: "Google to Offer Video Downloads,
Software That Rivals Microsoft's
By KEVIN J. DELANEY and NICK WINGFIELD
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
January 5, 2006; Page A9

Google Inc. plans to announce Friday that it will begin allowing consumers to buy videos from major content partners through the Google site and will also roll out a new downloadable bundle of software for consumers that could heighten Google's competition with Microsoft Corp., according to people familiar with the matter.
[CES] CES TRACKER

See the latest news from the Consumer Electronics Show, where next-generation gadgets are unveiled and high-tech executives offer their views of the future.

Under the major upgrade to Google's video-search service, consumers will be able to pay to download and view videos, such as television shows, on their computers from Google content partners such as TV companies, people familiar with the matter say. Google plans to announce partnerships with some major players tomorrow, including CBS Corp. and the National Basketball Association, these people say. By virtue of Google's huge presence online, the move could place Google in competition with other emerging powers in Internet distribution of video such as Apple Computer Inc.

Google co-founder Larry Page plans to make the announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, say the people familiar with the matter. Google in a statement said, 'We have a number of exciting announcements that we look forward to sharing in detail on Friday afternoon, during Larry's keynote address at CES.' A CBS spokesman declined to comment. An NBA spokesman couldn't be reached for comment.

The Mountain View, Calif., search company also plans to announce Google Pack, a bundle of software from Google and other companies that consumers will be able to download and install on their computers, s"

digg / movies: "'Back to the Future 4'???

NITROSLICK submitted by NITROSLICK 1 hours 9 minutes ago (via http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/...)

Michael J. Fox is in talks to do another 'Back to the Future' sequel...but this time playing the 'Doc' character?!"

The Technology Liberation Front: Video Placebo: Is that Really HDTV You Are Watching?: "Video Placebo: Is that Really HDTV You Are Watching?

News of the video bizarre: According to a just-released survey by Scientific-Atlanta, millions of people who have HDTV sets apparently think they are watching high definition television, but aren’t. The survey was spurred by an earlier Forrester Research projection that by the end of the year some 16 million U.S. households will have HDTV sets, but only seven million wll have HDTV reception. The Scientific Atlanta survey found that, yes, some 49 percent of households were not taking advantage of their HD equipment. About a quarter found that their HD set itself provided better reception, without taking the additional steps necessary to view HD. Eighteen percent said they didn’t even know needed additional equipment, such as a set-top box or antenna. A quarter admitted they thought they were watching HD video because, after all, the programs said at the beginning that they were broadcast in HDTV.

The survey confirms the long-standing prejudice of many of us non-videophiles that HDTV really isn’t all that impressive. Still, it is milding shocking that so many people plunk down money for an HD set, but never catch on that it isn’t actually turned on.

This could open up a slew of innovative policy options for the digital transition. Perhaps, instead of actually allocating spectrum to HDTV broadcasts, the FCC could just say it has done so, saving the spectrum for more valued uses. And instead of requiring HD tuners on sets, the FCC could just require a sticker saying the set has an HD tuner. The possibilities are endless.

Posted by James Gattuso at December 7, 2005 10:49 AM"

BetaNews | Xbox 360 Launch Set for Midnight: "Xbox 360 Launch Set for Midnight
By Ed Oswald, BetaNews
November 21, 2005, 10:20 AM

Electronics retailers across the country are preparing for the expected onslaught of excited gamers as the Xbox 360 officially launches on Tuesday. At least one major retailer will open its doors early, and over 4,500 others nationwide will open at midnight to begin selling the console.

To celebrate the impending launch, Microsoft held a special event called 'Xbox 360: Zero Hour' in California's Mojave Desert that began Sunday night. Attendees will have the chance Monday night to buy the console, games and accessories before leaving the invite-only party.

Microsoft says Zero Hour was the first time the company had held an event of this size for gamers. The company hosted a party in 2001 for the launch of the original Xbox console, but those who had attended both said that this event was much grander in scale.

'The debut of Xbox 360 marks one of the biggest consumer launches in Microsoft's history,' Microsoft's chief Xbox officer Robbie Bach said.

Along with midnight Xbox 360 sales, Best Buy said that it would open its stores an hour earlier Tuesday at 9 a.m. local time. The store urged customers to arrive early, as tickets would be issued for those waiting to buy the console.

Each store would carry a minimum of ten units. However, no pre-orders would be accepted, nor would rain checks be made available, Best Buy said.

Tuesday's Xbox 360 launch will mark the first part of a three-phase global rollout. The console will launch December 2 in Europe, and then December 10 in Japan."

digg / movies: "Backyard Filmmakers Are Hollywood's Greatest Fear

Googleberries submitted by Googleberries 9 days ago (via http://www.popularmechanics.co...)

'Hollywood is in a panic over digital entertainment on the Internet. With a host of lawsuits and regulatory actions--from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to the Grokster case--movie studios are doing everything they can to shut down file sharing. They say they're fighting piracy. But Hollywood has more to fear than pirates: you.'"

digg / movies: "Serenity coming out on DVD on December 20

rebal submitted by rebal 2 days ago (via http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/cont...)

Universal Studios Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of Serenity for 20th December 2005 priced at $29.98 SRP."

BetaNews | Comcast to Stream Video of NHL Games: "Comcast to Stream Video of NHL Games
By Ed Oswald, BetaNews
October 4, 2005, 4:30 PM

Comcast has struck a deal with the National Hockey League to stream NHL games live to its nearly 8 million high-speed Internet subscribers. Comcast will stream up to two matches per day, including the Stanley Cup playoffs. All broadcasts will be available in archived format up to two days after the game ends.

Local blackout restrictions will still apply, however a Comcast subscriber will be able to view a game from anywhere with a broadband connection, the company said. The news follows an August 18 announcement that made Comcast subsidiary Outdoor Life Network the new cable home of the NHL. The station will broadcast 58 games during the regular season."

BetaNews | Microsoft Reveals Xbox 360 Lineup: "Microsoft Reveals Xbox 360 Lineup
By Ed Oswald, BetaNews
October 4, 2005, 5:32 PM

Microsoft began a full-court press to promote its upcoming Xbox 360 game console by making several major announcements at a press event in Amsterdam Tuesday. Also confirmed were several titles that will be made available when the new Xbox becomes available next month.

The company expects some 20 titles to be ready when the console launches, with up to 200 more currently in development. In comparison, the original Xbox only had about a half-dozen titles available at launch.

Some of the games available from Rare, a Microsoft subsidiary, include 'Kameo: Elements of Power,' 'Perfect Dark Zero,' and 'Project Gotham Racing 3.'

Electronic Arts also threw its support behind the Xbox 360, with EA vice president Gerhard Florin saying 'the combined power of Xbox 360 and innovation from EA in graphics, animation and game play means consumers will have unprecedented levels of interaction and rich connection with the games they play.'

EA Xbox 360 titles will include 'FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup,' as well as 'NBA Live' and 'Madden NFL.'

Franchise titles will also make their debut on Xbox 360, including a Superman video game, 'Call of Duty 2,' 'Castle Wolfenstein,' and 'Quake 4.'

'The biggest and the best names in publishing are committed to the success of Xbox 360, and looking at the titles we have announced tonight we are very excited,' Microsoft's vice president of Xbox marketing Peter Moore said in a statement.

'From exclusive titles to debuting the next installment of some of the world’s best-loved franchises, Xbox 360 will redefine gaming and entertainment,' he continued. 'The high-definition era of gaming starts now.”

Microsoft's Xbox 360 will go on sale for $299 USD for a basic system on November 22. A model with a hard drive that gives users the capability to download older Xbox games would retail for $399 USD."

digg / movies: "Serenity grosses a mere $10 million in opening weekend



For a sci-fi adventure film, this is quite a disappointment. No sequel for you!"

digg / movies: "DVD Release Schedule



You can use this site to find out when DVDs are going to be released. The layout isn't great, but the information is always accurate."