Quickflix – the Australian equivalent of Netflix – is said to announce a new distribution deal, and plans to increase its own content available for online streaming as it sees this year to be the year where streaming will kick off.
TECHGEEK Weekly 75: Parties and Blackouts
The internet goes through a blackout, MegaVideo’s CEO arrested in New Zealand, and Apple becomes greedy again with your words. Yes, TECHGEEK Weekly is back and in full swing.
This week Terence Huynh, Tom Solari and Chris Southcott talk about the day’s news. And sadly, no Stewart today, meaning that you have the magical free MP3 Skype Recorder.
MegaUpload goes back up (sort of); CEO denied bail and could be extradited
MegaUpload’s short-lived takedown has been shortlived with the site reportedly back up online – just not in a typical way. In addition, employees of the company – including the CEO Kim Dotcom – were denied bail by a New Zealand court.
PIPA – the race is still on, who still supports the bill?
Image: Skye Suicide/Flickr (Creative Commons)
While the Stop Online Piracy Act is in the backburner (for now), its Senate cousin – the PROTECT IP Act – is still going ahead despite growing opposition. The vote is still going ahead on January 24 (or January 25 our time), all thanks to Harry Reid (D-NV).
BREAKING: MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom arrested in New Zealand. US Justice Department: ‘organized criminal enterprise’
Will.I.Am in a recent MegaUpload YouTube video.
If you’ve been trying to get onto MegaUpload or any of their subsidiaries, you might want to look elsewhere. Kim Dotcom (yes, that’s his real name) has been arrested in Auckland, New Zealand after the United States Justice Department filed charges against the company, calling it an “international organized criminal enterprise allegedly responsible for massive worldwide online piracy.” Along with Dotcom, three other MegaUpload executives have been arrested at the request of the US Government. DOJ also described the other three executives as “at large.”
Kodak files for bankruptcy – now who will buy its patents?
Kodak has announced that it and all of its subsidies have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, in a move to restructure the company “to focus on its most valuable business lines” after years of ignoring the rise of digital cameras.
Rdio announces pricing plans for Australia/NZ users
Rdio is now official in Australia. After a quiet launch, the company has publicly revealed its pricing structure. The company also will continue to offer a seven-day trial to use the service, so users can experience it before committing to it.
Telstra announces first 4G phone – HTC Velocity – to land on Jan 24
Telstra’s first 4G smartphone from HTC has now got a name and a release date. Called the HTC Velocity 4G, the phone features a 1.5GHz dual core processor, a 4.5-inch touchscreen and an 8 megapixel camera.
Jerry Yang resigns from Yahoo, cuts all ties – is someone buying Yahoo?
Jerry Yang has announced he will resign from Yahoo’s Board of Directors and all other positions within the company and its subsidiaries, effective immediately. The news is highly surprising, and speculation is rising that Yahoo could be bought out.
Who else is participating in the Jan 18 Blackout?
Wikipedia and Reddit are not the only sites to black-out their website in protest of the PROTECT IP and Stop Online Piracy Acts that are running through the US Congress. Many other sites, including Destructoid, and Imgur will also participate.
What is SOPA and PIPA (and why Wikipedia isn’t working)?
Have you heard about the Stop Online Piracy Act, or the PROTECT IP Act? The tech industry is talking about it. And that could be because it hasn’t gotten any mainstream media attention until the White House publicly said it would not let it through if Congress passed it in its current form. But what is it? Why are Google and Facebook against it?
Wikipedia to blackout for 24 hours in protest of SOPA and PIPA this Wednesday
This is absolutely insane. For a few days Reddit has been making news for their 12 hour blackout on Wednesday in protest of SOPA/PIPA.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, has been planning a much more drastic and mainstream protest for the controversial bill.
GALLERY: NeverDead
The game isn’t coming out until February 3, but Konami has released some new screenshots of its new demonic action game NeverDead – created by Shinta Nojiri, known for his work on the Metal Gear Solid series. Gallery is after the jump.
GALLERY: Silent Hill Downpour
Silent Hill: Downpour – the eighth installment in the survival horror game series – isn’t coming until March, but Konami has released some new screenshots to keep you awaiting. You can flick through these screenshots after the jump.
RUMOUR MILL: iPad 3 to have LTE, HD screen?
Image: Pedro Eugenio Antunes/Flickr (Creative Commons)
Rumours are heating up again just after CES, with a new iPad set to go on sale in March, touting specs that sport a HD screen and will run on LTE. These come, as usual, from “people familiar with the product”.