About a week ago, I dumped about 2,000 unread links into the ether, and I've started culling some of the less useful feeds out of my RSS reader. I just can't do the whole kit-and-kaboodle any more, and feel like it's finally time to focus a bit more. But I'll still be sending interesting stuff as it comes up for at least a while, the volume will just be lower.


TechCrunch » Blog Archive » Download Your TV - The Current Options

It’s going to be a while before the service models are compelling enough for the world to turn away en masse from today’s TV, but it’s clear we’re at the start of a major disruption that will shake content producers (the networks) and the distributors (cable) to the core.

Nothing is close to challenging iTunes yet for downloadable tv dominance (well, except bittorent and DVRs), and it’s unlikely a single network will be able to do much to overcome them. People want to be able to consume their content in one place, and iTunes does a very good job of allowing that.

Making money selling music without DRM: the rise of eMusic : Page 1

For a music store that wants to succeed, reaching the iPod audience is all but a necessity in the the US market, where Apple products account for 78 percent of the total players sold. Perhaps that's why eMusic CEO David Pakman sounds downright gleeful when he points out that "there's only two companies in the world that can sell to them—Apple and eMusic."
I'm really enjoying playing around with eMusic right now.  The simplicity and "excellent curating" has been most welcome.

Wired 14.06: The Rise of Crowdsourcing

All these companies grew up in the Internet age and were designed to take advantage of the networked world. But now the productive potential of millions of plugged-in enthusiasts is attracting the attention of old-line businesses, too. For the last decade or so, companies have been looking overseas, to India or China, for cheap labor. But now it doesn’t matter where the laborers are – they might be down the block, they might be in Indonesia – as long as they are connected to the network.

TV networks say "No!" to Remote Storage DVRs, file suit in US District Court

Concerns over copyright are being brought before a judge in a move that could once again subject innovation to the whims of the entertainment industry. At the center of the debate is Cablevision's "remote storage" DVR, which has also been called a "network DVR" in some circles. The device is like other DVRs in that it allows users to digitally record TV shows as well as pause live TV, but there's a twist: rather than store the content in the DVR, Comcast plans to store it at a central facility, and stream content over their network.
Sounds a bit like mp3.com of yore.

The tables turn: Torrentspy sues the MPAA for conspiracy and invasion of privacy

Torrentspy has just filed a lawsuit against the MPAA, accusing the group of conspiracy, unlawful business practices, misappropriation of trade secrets, violations of the California Invasion of Privacy Act, and more.

Torrentspy alleges (PDF) that the MPAA hired a hacker to retrieve private information from Torrentspy servers and from the private e-mail accounts of the company's management.
About time.  Of course, a certain Senator wanted to make this behavior legal.

European Commission changes its mind on software patents

The European Patent Office would not grant any more software patents and that any patents that have already been granted may now be challenged and overturned in court.

Check the Numbers: Rumors of Classical Music's Demise Are Dead Wrong - New York Times

Both Sony-BMG and Universal say that as their [Classical] download sales have increased, CD sales have remained steady, suggesting that downloaders are a new market, not simply the same consumers switching formats.

Slashdot | Movie Burning Kiosks Coming To Retailers

The motion picture industry is in talks with some major retailers about installing DVD burning kiosks in stores.

Slashdot | Viral Music Videos A Problem For RIAA

A few years ago music videos were considered promotional, a tease to get the viewer to buy the whole album. However, now that a commercial market for music videos is springing up, the music industry is not quite happy with YouTube, iFilm, Google Video and other video sharing sites distributing the music videos of famous artists.

--Ari