Technology News

Conan O'Brien's First Public Act Since He Left 'The Tonight Show' is a Tweet

Source: Michael Ricci
February 25, 2010

Conan O'Brien joins Twitter and doubles Jay Leno's follower count in two hours. O'Brien may not have had any fans in the NBC Universal boardroom, but there was perhaps no stronger congregation of Coco supporters than on Twitter.

The social network quickly rushed to a profile page for @ConanOBrien that began tweeting on Wednesday. Twitter spokesman Sean Garrett confirms that the account does indeed belong to O'Brien, and the page has since been updated with the company's “verified" stamp of ...

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The Fate of a Format: Will MusicDNA Catch On?

Source: HypeBot
February 24, 2010

Kyle Bylin (@kbylin), Associate Editor

Twenty-seven and a half years ago, the manufacturing of the world's first compact disc took place at a Philips factory in Langenhagen, Germany. Upon its introduction, the CD was marketed to music fans with regards to its superior sound quality and scratch free durability. But, as time when on, those claims were both highly debated among audiophiles, and, in the case of durability, or “Perfect Sound Forever" as they called it, even refuted completely. ...

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Reverbnation and Audiolife Partner for Reverb Store

Source: HypeBot
February 24, 2010

Music marketing platform ReverbNation has partnered with direct to fan e-commerce provider Audiolife to launch of the Reverb Store following a private trial involving more than 15,000 bands.

Using on demand production, the Reverb Store allows musicians to sell t-shirts, hoodies, hats, CDs, downloads and ringtones direct to fans on Facebook, social networks, their blog and homepage without any up front expense.

Artists set the final price above the cost and keep 100% of the profits. They can order larger ...

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Cost, Crotchetiness Keep Broadband out of 1/3 of U.S. Homes

Source: All About Jazz
February 24, 2010

More than a third of American adults don't have a fast internet connection at home, leaving some 80 million adults and 13 million children at a distinct disadvantage in a wired world, according to an FCC report released Tuesday. The survey, conducted by phone last fall, comes less than a month before the FCC gives Congress the country's first comprehensive plan to make broadband ubiquitous and affordable. The survey, Broadband Adoption and Use in America (.pdf), was intended to help ...

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Cell Phones and People -- The Largest Human Biological Experiment Ever?

Source: Michael Ricci
February 24, 2010

Lab rats with cellphones? Our wireless lifestyle is making us all unwitting test subjects.

We love our digital gadgets -- “magic" devices that define cool and promise to remake our lives for the better. But there is growing evidence of a dark side to the techno-magic. Your cellphone, and any other wireless device that depends on electromagnetic (EM) microwave radiation to function, may be hazardous to your health. Most of the bad news comes from major labs and research institutions ...

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If You Build It (Well) They Will Come

Source: Michael Ricci
February 24, 2010

Survey: Consumers will pay for online content if it's worth the price. In a recent survey of 27,000 Web users in 52 countries, Nielsen found that 85% of respondents would like to see free Web content stay free.

But when asked if they would be willing to pay for specific kinds of Web-based content, the results were not as black and white.

More than 50% of respondents said they would actually pay for online movies, music, or games. Many of ...

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FCC to Unveil Broadband Plan Mar 17

Source: All About Jazz
February 24, 2010

U.S. communications regulators will unveil on March 17 a blueprint aimed at bringing fast affordable Internet access to more than 90 million Americans being held back by fees and technology. The Federal Communications Commission said on Tuesday that the long-awaited National Broadband Plan will try to help connect 93 million Americans to high-speed Internet to find jobs, access educational and healthcare services, and reduce household energy costs. “In the 21st century, a digital divide is an opportunity divide," FCC Chairman ...

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Does the FCC Have Standing to Investigate a TV Show That Never Aired?

Source: Michael Ricci
February 24, 2010

If a television show never aired, can the Federal Communications Commission investigate whether the show violated government rules?

No, that's not an ontological question. The FCC, as we reported over the weekend, is looking into “Our Little Genius," a quiz show that Fox shelved late last year after the network was informed by renowned producer Mark Burnett that some funny stuff had gone on behind the scenes. Apparently some of the contestants may have been coached about the ...

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