Technology News

Doubletwist Gets $5m to Help You Share Music and Media with Your Friends

Source: HypeBot
April 9, 2009

Startup doubleTiwst has received $5 million in second round financing from former CAA and Disney chief Michael Ovitz and former Warner Music Head of Digital Strategy Alex Zubillaga among others according to tech journal VentureBeat.

After loading the application, users can drag and drop their music and other media files to any device or to a friend's registered user account. Behind the scenes doubleTwist handles often tricky issues like iTunes file format compatibility seamlessly. Users can also upload files to ...

Continue Reading...

Facebook Divorces Pirate Bay

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2009

Facebook is blocking Pirate Bay torrents from being shared on the popular social-networking site, a week after Pirate Bay unveiled a feature to allow Facebook users the ability to link torrents on their profiles.

Beginning Wednesday, the “Share on Facebook" bookmarklet does not function.

Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt told TorrentFreak on Wednesday that the social-networking site “respects copyrights and our Terms of Service prohibits placement of 'Share on Facebook' links on sites that contain any content that is infringing. Given ...

Continue Reading...

Amazon, Wal-Mart Follow iTunes, up MP3 Prices

Source: PC Magazine
April 9, 2009

That was fast. One day after iTunes upped the price for some of its DRM-free digital downloads to $1.29, Amazon.com and Wal-Mart have also increased their prices to $1.29 and $1.24, respectively. Of the top 100 MP3 downloads currently listed on Amazon.com, eight of them are now priced at $1.29, up from 99 cents. Those include selections from Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Kings of Leon, Brad Paisley, Journey, and The Fray. Other Amazon tracks are available for 79 cents ...

Continue Reading...

iTunes Hits $1.29 but EMI, Amazon and Walmart Buck Pricing Trend

Source: HypeBot
April 9, 2009

Yesterday iTunes dropped all remaining DRM and launched variable pricing. As predicted, the major labels and some major distributed indies upped prices on hit product to $1.29. EMI Holds At 99 Cents EMI appears to be the one major label not jumping on the price increase bandwagon. A Wednesday morning survey of iTunes showed hit product by Coldplay and other EMI artists still at $.99. During the original transition to DRM-free, first mover EMI ...

Continue Reading...

Winning Were Linux Video Illustrates Meaning of Freedom

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2009

The winner of the Were Linux video contest has been announced its Amitay Tweeto, a freelance graphic designer and user interface consultant from Bet Shemesh, Israel.

The contest challenged members of the Linux community to dream up a video advertisement evangelizing the free and open-source software using the theme, Were Linux, a play on Apples recent Im a Mac ads, and the Im a PC ads Microsoft put out in response.

Over 90 videos were submitted between December and March. ...

Continue Reading...

Twitter's Musical Potential Unlocked by K'naan, Moonalice

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2009

Crossover hip-hop artist K'naan is revising one of his hits using his fans' tweets. After securing $35 million in February and continuing its explosive growth, the only thing that is left for Twitter to do now is to go viral with innovation.

A pair of musical projects that use the microblogging service could help make that happen: Somali-born hip-hopper K'naan Warsame is revising his song “People Like Me" using fans' tweets, and the San Francisco sessions vets in Moonalice are ...

Continue Reading...

Yahoo Hurrying into Social Apps

Source: PC Magazine
April 8, 2009

Like nearly 200 million other people around the world, Yahoo Inc co-founder David Filo has a Facebook account. But if Filo and new CEO Carol Bartz have their way, the kinds of social networking features available on Facebook will become part of many Yahoo websites and allow their users to network with each other without using Facebook. The company hopes the strategy will help link its disparate properties, bringing more advertising dollars and growth. Yahoo is turning up the volume ...

Continue Reading...

Music Labels Betting on New iTunes Pricing

Source: PC Magazine
April 8, 2009

Apple Inc and major music labels are betting that the launch of three-tier pricing at the iTunes Music Store will boost music sales with a new mix of song-based packages and give consumers more options. Apple will announce its new three-tier price points at 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 on Tuesday, according to several people familiar with its plans. Since opening in 2003 all songs in the iTunes store have been priced at 99 cents. The previous 'one price ...

Continue Reading...