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Netflix has announced yet another licensing agreement for their Watch Instantly streaming video service. The deal with cable EPIX will give them streaming rights to movies from Paramount, MGM & Lionsgate.

EPIX is owned by Studio 3 Partners, which in turn is jointly owned by Paramount, MGM & Lionsgate. They offer a premium cable channel and VOD service featuring new releases and a selection of catalog titles from the three studios.

Movies currently offered on EPIX include Iron Man, Star Trek, Saw VI & the entire Indiana Jones series, as well as classics like The Godfather & the original version of The Thomas Crown Affair.

Right now EPIX is only available from a handful of smaller cable companies plus Verizon FiOS & Dish Network. Offering their movies through Netflix

EPIX subscribers who also have internet service from their TV provider already get access to EpixHD.com, where they can stream all the titles available through the premium cable channel in 720p, as well as some titles not available through the TV offering. Dish Network customers get access to the same content through DishOnline.

Earlier today, Google and Verizon made headlines by unveiling a joint proposal for the future of net neutrality.

The plan calls for "a new, enforceable prohibition against discriminatory practices. This means that for the first time, wireline broadband providers would not be able to discriminate against or prioritize lawful Internet content, applications or services in a way that causes harm to users or competition."

Google and Verizon's proposal leaves open the ability for ISPs to charge Web sites extra if they offer certain services.

Almost immediately after the announcement, MoveOn.Org Civic Action, Credo Action, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and ColorofChange.org released a statement describing how tens of millions of Americans would be harmed if the proposal was to be followed. The groups already have a petition with over 300,000 signatures protesting the proposal.

Most seem very upset by Google's turn against net neutrality, the concept that all sites and bandwidth on the Internet should be free of restrictions. Because smarpthones would be exempt from any of the future changes, many also see the proposal as a way to push Android well into the future.

Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world after he co-founded Microsoft in the 70s, has made some interesting comments today in relation to the college experience.

Gates says that soon college educations will be irrelevant, thanks to the Internet.

"The self-motivated learner will be on the web. And there will be far less place-based [college] things...College -- except for the parties -- needs to be less place based," says Gates.

Additionally, he says traditional college studies will soon be "five times less important than it is today."

It is notable to remember that Gates dropped out of Harvard University to found the company that has since become the largest tech company in the world.

Gates was quick to note that he feels K-12 education is very important, especially charter school programs that immerse the children in learning: "If you want to take intercity fifth grade kids and get them to think 'Hey learning is fun...I do that with other kids.' you need to have at least 80 percent of their waking hours devoted to your thing or otherwise you lose -- and these charter schools do that."

The Motorola Droid 2, easily the worst kept secret since the iPhone 4, has now had its price leaked, along with another confirmation on its launch date.

Motorola's new flagship smartphone will be available starting August 12th (this Thursday), if the leak is to be believed.

Pictures from Best Buy give us the price, which is $200 with 2-year contract, and $600 if you want the device without contract.

Additionally, Verizon's wireless page is showing the original Droid as currently "Out of Stock," an almost sure sign that the Droid 2 is ready to go.

The Motorola Droid 2 has a 1Ghz processor, runs Android 2.2, has 8GB of internal memory, a 5.0MP camera with IS and autofocus, and comes with an 8GB MicroSD card.

Google has continued its strong expansion into the social gaming market, purchasing the virtual currency start-up Jambool for $75 million.

Jambool was founded in 2006 and has been a hit with its Social Gold virtual currency product.

Social Gold can be used in MMOs, virtual worlds, regular online games and social gaming applications.

The company was started by former Amazon execs Vikas Gupta and Reza Hussein.

Neither company has confirmed the purchase price but multiple sources place the price at $55 million, with another $20 million based on incentives.

Last week, Google purchased the social gaming developer Slide, for $182 million and earlier in the year, Google invested about $150 million in developer Zynga, the company behind hits like Farmville.

The popular developer/hacker Comex, the man behind the Web-based iPhone jailbreaking site, has released Frash today for the smartphone, certain iPod Touch models and the iPad allowing for Adobe Flash support on jailbroken devices.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has long said that the company will not support Flash on "i" devices.

If you own the iPhone 3GS with iOS4, the iPhone 4, the iPod Touch 3G or the iPad you can now run Flash from within the Safari browser.

The installation is pretty simple. Add a custom Cydia repository, install the program and reboot your "i" device.

While the app is a great start, the developer is quick to note that the beta (version 0.02) can only support very simple Flash animations, making it useless for the most part unless you love invasive Web ads.

AT&T, the U.S.' second largest wireless carrier, has announced the launch of their U-Verse Mobile App, now available through the iPhone/Touch App Store.

U-verse subscribers can now download and stream TV shows on their iPhone.

The app will also allow users to manage their DVR and download and watch the selected shows.

Additionally, U-verse subscribers can browse the full U-verse TV program guide, view descriptions of the content, and watch them in full screen mode on the iPhone.

AT&T says 100,000 U-verse subscribers already use the Web app and an early beta of the Mobile App, dubbed Mobile Remote Access.

"We’re making it possible for you to watch TV shows on your iPhone at no extra charge. It’s just one more valuable and innovative feature available on U-verse TV," added David Christopher, CMO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Our U-verse multi-screen promise is now a reality for millions of U-verse TV customers, with content available on U-verse TV, U-verse Online, and today, U-verse Mobile. No cable provider comes close to matching the cross-platform experience we’re delivering today, and we’ll continue to add unique features that further integrate these screens."

AndroidGuys has posted some photos this weekend of HTC's alleged "world phone," one that runs both GSM and CDMA bands.

The pictured prototype is for Verizon, and the site says they don't expect the phone to be released until 2011.

Showing off its dual-network capabilities, the smartphone had a Vodaphone SIM card, as well.

The other specs are up for interpretation but it appears to have a 4-inch mulitouch display, a 4-row QWERTY keypad and a 1.2 Ghz processor.

Furthermore, the device is expected to launch with at least Android 2.2.

Yoko Ono, the widow of the late John Lennon has said this week that negotiations between Apple and The Beatles are still at a standstill, so don't expect the popular catalog to hit iTunes or other MP3 stores anytime soon.

The band remains one of the few to not go legally digital, instead selling physical CDs like they did last year, with the catalog remastered.

Apple Corps (not to be confused with iTunes owner Apple), the group's holding company still cannot come to terms with the EMI Group, the label which licenses the Beatles' recordings.

Says Ono: "[Apple CEO] Steve Jobs has his own idea and he's a brilliant guy. There's just an element that we're not very happy about, as people. We are holding out. "Don't hold your breath ... for anything."

Apple Corps is jointly owned by Ono, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star and Olivia Harrison, widow of former member George Harrison.

Billboard is reporting this week that UMG (Universal Music Group) has pulled its artist's music videos from MTV.com, due to a breakdown in negotiations over licensing fees.

UMG has long licensed music directly to MTV but it now does all its direct licensing through Vevo, the joint venture site which includes Sony Music, YouTube and AT&T as stakeholders.

MTV's deal with UMG has now expired and Vevo was in negotiations with MTV before the talks broke down. The deal is only for online properties and also includes the sites for VH1 and CMT.

The popular TV network had this to say on the matter:

"For almost 30 years, we have enjoyed long and colorful partnerships with all the music labels, including UMG and their talented roster of artists on MTV, VH1 and CMT. As the industry evolves, we continue to seek out new and innovative ways to connect artists with their fans that are mutually beneficial to everyone. However, during our recent discussions with Vevo, we were unable to reach a fair and equitable agreement for rights to stream UMG artists’ music video content. As a result, UMG has elected to pull their music videos from our web sites. We are disappointed by this move and sincerely hope that UMG will work with us toward a fair resolution and allow their artists to once again connect with the millions of music fans who visit MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com every month."

Over the past few months, the Chinese Ministry of Culture has identified 185 sites that infringe on copyrights, adding that the sites violate regulations and do not have licenses to distribute music.

Since April, 23 of those sites have shut down, and the Ministry is still actively investigating the others.

The IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) has applauded the recent actions:

"It is good news that the authorities are taking action against some infringing websites, but there are many more illegal music services that continue to operate with impunity," says Leong Mayseey, IFPI regional director for Asia, (via Billboard).

"Only 23 of the original 185 websites identified by the Ministry of Culture have been taken down and it is not clear what penalties, if any, their operators face. If China wants its creative sector to punch its weight globally, it must do more to create a widespread climate of respect for intellectual property."

Apple has updated the iPad App Store this week, allowing tablet owners to use Genius recommendations when looking for apps.

Opening the App Store on your tablet will give you the option to "Genius" (right next to "Updates"). After enabling it, users are given a list of apps they may want to try out, based on their past choices and downloads.

The iPhone/Touch App Store has had the option for a couple of years now, but now iPad tablet owners have the same ability.

Apple's Genius recommendations for the iPad work exactly like the iPhone/Touch version, giving an option to upgrade from free apps to their paid counterparts, as well. If you are completely uninterested in an app, tick "not interested" to ensure the same app will not show up again.

The company recently debuted "Try Before You Buy" for the App Store, as well, which gives users a chance to demo paid apps before buying it.

The IFPI has claimed the largest ever piracy raid in Bulgaria this week, shutting down four sites that illegally distribute music, movies, video games and software.

The Bulgarian Police's Cyber Crime Unit, in conjunction with the IFPI, have shut down nanoset.net, rapidadd.com, 4storing.com and afasta.com.

Bulgarian Association of Music Producers (BAMP) claimed the sites were run by organized crime members and filed the original complaints against each of the sites.

Nanoset was a P2P service but the other three were file-hosting and storing sites, each of which also offered streaming capabilities of unauthorized movies, many of which were still in theaters or had yet to hit theaters in the nation.

Police added that they believe users paid €2.5 million to access the content, and the sites also raised money through advertising.

Site operators were arrested and computer systems were seized, noted the authorities. Bulgarian ISPs hosting the websites were also discovered to have 120 terabytes of unauthorized content.

In May we reported that Foxconn was raising worker salaries up to 70 percent amidst a flood of worker suicides at their Chinese factory.

The company, probably best known for manufacturing the Apple iPhone among tons of other electronics we use daily, has been massively criticized for its working conditions, and low wages.

This week, the company has confirmed a new death at its Chinese plants, a 22-year old assembly worker.

The company says the woman "fell from a dormitory at a plant" in mainland China.

Police are still looking into the incident.

Foxconn, and parent Hon Hai have been under intense scrutiny all year following the eleven suicides at its plants in China. Worker's families were compensated ten times the worker's annual salary after each suicide, leading many to believe that the deaths were intentional to pass on money to family members.

TorrentReactor, one of the most popular torrent trackers on the Web, has purchased a small town in Russia and renamed it "TorrentReactor."

The site purchased the small town of Gar for $148,000 USD (4.5 million rubles).

TorrentReactor founder Alex confirmed the purchase to TF.

Gar was founded in 1958 by Russian Orthodox Church zealots and currently only has 215 inhabitants. Most are farmers.

Thanks to the purchase by the torrent site, the people of Gar will now get Internet, although there are only three computers in the whole town, with one connected to the Internet via dial-up.

"Most of it will be split among villagers and the rest will be used to re-equip the local school, repair roads, purchase agricultural equipment and machinery. Also torrentreactor.net company decided to pay for broadband Internet connection in the settlement which will result in about 900,000 rubles ($30,000) because there are no networks nearby," says Alex of TorrentReactor.

The move may seem like a marketing campaign for the site, but Alex says the TR team is trying to be humanitarians: "We realize it’s just a drop in the ocean comparing to the amount of money needed to help thousands of other villages. But we at least do something to support complete strangers. We are proud that we are able to do so and hope we will be proud of this in the future."