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Studios sue Triton Media in effort to stop ads on piracy sites

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Aug 2010 12:09

Studios sue Triton Media in effort to stop ads on piracy sites Warner and Disney have sued the advertising company Triton Media alleging that the company provided advertising consulting and referrals to nine "one-stop-shop" piracy sites.

The studios say Triton, of Scottsdale, Arizona, committed contributory infringement due to their assistance in the advertising.

Studios identified by the lawsuit are: www.free-tv-video-online.info, supernovatube.com, donogo.com, watch-movies.net, watch-movies-online.tv, watch-movies-links.net, havenvideo.com and piratecity.org.

Each of the sites offers access to unauthorized movies, games music and software.

The suit alleges that Triton enables the web sites to operate and has working knowledge that they are participating in illegal activities.

Disney and Warner are seeking an injunction that would ban Triton from working with similar sites, as well as monetary damages.




AfterDawn: News

iPad orders finally ship within 24 hours

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 10:56

iPad orders finally ship within 24 hours Fortune has reported today that Apple iPad orders are finally shipping within 24 hours, the first time the tablet has shipped within a day since its launch in April.

It took 170 days for supply to catch up to demand on the popular tablet.

Apple has been struggling to get production moving since the iPad sold out during launch weekend.

The iPad 3G launch was pushed back a few weeks and the international rollout of the tablet was pushed back a full month.

Orders from Apple.com, at their worst, had shipping delays of 15 business days. By May, that number had dropped to 7-10 and by July it had hit 3 days.

The iPhone 4 still has a three-week delay.




AfterDawn: News

Google acquires Angstro, adds founder to team

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 10:16

Google acquires Angstro, adds founder to team Google has acquired the Web start-up Angstro this week while also moving co-founder Rohit Khare to the Google team.

The search giant has been in an acquisition frenzy over the past few months, purchasing a plethora of sites and services that will help their upcoming assault on the social networking world and its champion Facebook.

Khare is a respected Internet researcher and entrepreneur.

Earlier in the summer, Google purchased the social gaming siteSlide, while recruiting its founder Max Levchin to become a VP of engineering for social media efforts. Levchin was the co-founder of PayPal.

Google has also invested $150 million in social gaming market leader Zynga.

The social networking service, dubbed "Google Me" internally is still in "stealth mode" and Google will not publicly discuss it.

Google versus Facebook has become a hot-topic in the tech world, with many believing Facebook will soon start its own advertising network to rival Google's AdSense, while Google prepares its full assault on the social networking world.




AfterDawn: News

DOJ asks for more info from Google in ITA bid

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 9:58

DOJ asks for more info from Google in ITA bid Google has said this weekend that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a second request for information in regards to the search giant's bid to purchase ITA Software for $700 million.

ITA software is the company behind flight information software used by Bing, Kayak and Orbitz among others.

The software helps users search for flights, compare flight options and prices, and ultimately purchase tickets.

Google has no such software built-in to its search engine, and in that respect, Microsoft's Bing has the advantage.

Kayak and Orbitz voiced concerns that after the purchase, Google could shut off ITA information to them. Google has said it will not do anything of the sort.

Google responded to the second request: "While we think this acquisition will benefit travelers as well as those seeking their business, we know that closer scrutiny has been one consequence of Google's success, and we said that we wouldn’t be surprised if there were a regulatory review before the deal closes. This week we received what's called a "second request," which means that the U.S. Department of Justice is asking for more information so that they can continue to review the deal."

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AfterDawn: News

HTC Incredible owners now getting Android 2.2

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 9:40

HTC Incredible owners now getting Android 2.2 Verizon Wireless has started rolling out Android 2.2 Froyo to HTC Incredible owners this weekend.

Froyo brings a 450 percent performance boost over 2.1, native support for Flash 10.1, USB and Wi-Fi tethering, Apps2SD and cloud sync.

Since the start of August, the Nexus One, the HTC EVO 4G and the original Motorola Droid have updated to 2.2. Additionally, the Droid 2 has launched with the updated software already installed.

A few other phones, such as the Dell Streak, Motorola Droid X, HTC MyTouch 3G Slide and Samsung Captivate have all had 2.2 promised but with no set timetable.

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AfterDawn: News

Toshiba Folio 100 will run Android 2.2

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 9:27

Toshiba Folio 100 will run Android 2.2 NotebookItalia has leaked the specs for the upcoming Toshiba Folio 100, which many had been calling the "SmartPad."

The tablet should be the first true competitor to the Apple iPad as it packs some powerful features.

Toshiba's Folio 100 will have a 10.1-inch widescreen WSVGA display, run Android 2.2 Froyo, work on a Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and include 16GB of internal memory.

Additionally, the tablet will have 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, GPS, a 1.3MP webcam and an SD card reader with support up to 32GB.

As for ports, the Folio 100 has a USB 2.0 port, and HDMI port and a USB 2.0 mini audio jack.

Separating it even further from the iPad is the fact that the tablet supports the Opera Mobile Browser with Flash 1.10.

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AfterDawn: News

Microsoft founder Allen sues Google, Apple, eBay and many more

Written by Rich Fiscus @ 29 Aug 2010 5:30

Microsoft founder Allen sues Google, Apple, eBay and many more Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, has begun a campaign of patent infringement lawsuits against companies ranging from YouTube and Facebook to eBay and Office Depot.

Allen's patents were originally granted to his company, Interval Media, which shut down in 2006. The company w

"We recognize that innovation has a value, and patents are the way to protect that," said a spokesman for Allen. When asked about the notable absence of Microsoft and Amazon from the suit,

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AfterDawn: News

Sony working on glasses-free 3D TVs, as well

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 3:09

Sony working on glasses-free 3D TVs, as well Last week, Toshiba announced they are currently developing 3D HDTVs that do not require any special glasses.

Sony has made a similar announcement today, working on 3DTVs it hopes can be released by early 2011

"Seeing 3-D without glasses is more convenient," says Yoshihisa Ishida, Sony SVP. "We must take account of pricing before we can think about when to start offering them."

Panasonic and Sony have already released 3D HDTVs, both the displays require special (and usually expensive) glasses.

Sony says it will take the top spot in 3D TVs and Blu-ray player market share in Japan, thanks to its movie studio.




AfterDawn: News

New 3D Android tablet will not require glasses

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 2:43

New 3D Android tablet will not require glasses Rockchip has introduced their new 3D Android tablet this week, one that will be glasses-free while still giving owners full 3D support.

The tablet will use autostereoscopic technology, the same displays that will be available in the unreleased Nintendo 3DS.

Users can adjust the amount of 3D, and even disable it completely.

Rockchip has dubbed their tablet the Supernova x1 but little will be known officially about the device until the IFA in September.

Pictures show a 3.4-to-4-inch screen, a microSD slot, a USB port, SES Astra's 3D channel and volume controls.

You can view a slideshow of pics here: Rockchip Supernova x1 via Engadget




AfterDawn: News

Blockbuster prepares for bankruptcy

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 2:20

Blockbuster prepares for bankruptcy According to sources close to the matter, Blockbuster is preparing to file for bankruptcy in the next month.

Senior debt holders, company execs and the six major movie studios have all discussed Blockbuster's intentions to prepare a "pre-planned" bankruptcy in September.

The company will use Chapter 11 to restructure $990 million in debt and break leases on over 500 stores. The company has lost over $1 billion since 2008.

If the six studios decide to drop support for Blockbuster, the company will never emerge from bankruptcy, as it will lose its constant stream of DVDs and Blu-rays.

Blockbuster currently has 3425 brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S., and that is after they closed almost 1000 in the last year, alone. CEO Jim Keyes, say the sources via the LATimes, wants to use the bankruptcy to close up to 800 of the worst performing stores around the nation.

The company has fallen a long way from the top, with its current market value placed at around $15.31 million. Blockbuster was purchased in 1994 by Viacom for $8.4 billion.




AfterDawn: News

Lenovo to create videogame console

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 1:54

Lenovo to create videogame console The WSJ is reporting this weekend that Chinese electronics giant Lenovo is creating a video game console, dubbed the eBox.

Lenovo has created a new subsidiary, the Beijing eedoo Technology company to build the console.

The eBox will have controller-free gaming, which will likely be similar to Microsoft's upcoming Kinect motion control system.

Adds Jack Luo, president of eedoo: "We are the world's second company to produce a controller-free game console, behind only Microsoft. We saw game consoles as an area with growth potential."

Luo then made some comments on the market the eBox will be aimed at: "Our product is designed for family entertainment. Ebox may not have exquisite game graphics, or extensive violence, but it can inspire family members to get off the couch and get some exercise."

There is certainly a large family market in China, which has also banned the import of game consoles.

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AfterDawn: News

Apple App Store hits 250,000 apps

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Aug 2010 1:38

Apple App Store hits 250,000 apps According to the site 148Apps.biz, Apple has hit 250,000 apps available in the App Store, hitting the milestone in just over 2 years.

Almost 51,000 publishers have released 252,000 apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, although only a tenth of those apps were made for the popular tablet.

Books accounted for the most amount of apps, at 17 percent, followed closely by games at 14 percent.

Entertainment was the third most popular category, at 11 percent, with education, lifestyle and travel all following at 6 percent, each.

Royal Pingdom posted that 70 percent of App Store apps are paid, whereas in the Android Market only 36 percent are paid.

The Android Market is on the verge of hitting 100,000 apps.




AfterDawn: News

Lovefilm, MGM sign UK distribution deal

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Aug 2010 3:16

Lovefilm, MGM sign UK distribution deal The popular online and physical movie renting service Lovefilm has signed a UK distribution deal with MGM this week, making the studio's films available online and through Internet-enabled devices with the Lovefilm Player app.

Financials were not disclosed, but the deal will give Lovefilm subscribers access to 4100 MGM titles.

LoveFilm has 1.4 million European subscribers.

CEO Simon Calver says: "With the digital revolution underway, our opportunity for growth is huge and the addition of MGM titles is a substantial development in enhancing our digital catalog."

All MGM Classics are available now, and new releases will be available "on a transactional basis."




AfterDawn: News

Judge halts PSJailbreak sales

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Aug 2010 1:57

Judge halts PSJailbreak sales The online Australian retailers Quantronics and Ozmodchips have been ordered by a Federal Court in Australia to halt all sales, imports and distribution of the PSJailbreak USB dongles.

PSJailBreak will allow owners of any version of PS3 to run backups of PS3 games as well as homebrew applications. The $170 mod is a piece of software stored in a USB drive. By inserting the thumb drive into your PS3 you'll be able to install and run the launcher application in seconds without permanently modifying the console or its software.

The PSJailBreak application also included a backup tool which allows users to backup their game discs to the PS3 hard drive. Movies whether DVD or Blu-ray, or previous generation PlayStation games aren't supported by the tool. The backup manager can also be downloaded for free.

So far, the companies have switched the status of the item to "no stock," not yet completely removing the listings.

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AfterDawn: News

New dashboard update will improve Xbox headset sound

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Aug 2010 1:37

New dashboard update will improve Xbox headset sound Microsoft has said this week that the upcoming Xbox 360 software refresh will "significantly" improve the sound quality of the headsets.

The update is expected this fall, alongside the launch of the Kinect motion control system.

With the software update, Microsoft will "upgrade the codec and audio infrastructure that underpins the quality of voice communication from Xbox 360 to Xbox 360, and should make for clear chat between gamers when they play online," says Xbox Live Studios boss Jerry Johnson, via Eurogamer.

Explaining further, Johnson says: "The codec we used when we first launched was a low bit rate codec and we stuck with that."

Concluding: "We launched and we said we required broadband. We required a 64k connection, which not many people think of as broadband any longer. But that was the minimum requirement to run the service at the time.

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