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From the AP:   WASHINGTON – A U.S. appeals panel challenged new federal rules requiring certain video devices to have technology to prevent copying digital television programs and distributing them over the Internet. U.S. Circuit Judge Harry T. Edwards told the Federal Communications Commission it “crossed the line” requiring the new anti-piracy technology in next-generation Continue Reading →

A wonderful comment from Paul Marcum, VP/GM Interactive Media Group at Sesame Workshop:  Hey Shelly! You missed at least one V Cast killer app — programming that doesn’t need to be hi-res, is easily differentiated, completely enjoyable in short form, whose content can be location/context sensitive (numbers at the bank, letters at the mall, healthy Continue Reading →

Greg Levine reports: No “freedom fries” here: For all the excesses of the supposed Franco-American rift of late, at least two entities are overcoming the transatlantic gap. Microsoft and French electronics giant Alcatel inked a deal to market their Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) solution to global broadband purveyors around the world.   The Yank software Continue Reading →

And so, courtesy of Gizmodo, I bring you photos from Paris Hilton’s T-Mobile Sidekick II.  Ahh … the simple pleasure of browsing someone’s personal information on the world wide web.  With no effort you will be able to search the Internet using Google, Yahoo! or practically any search tool and find the complete contents of Continue Reading →

Anton Shilov reports: Motorola, a leading maker of mobile phones, and Skype, a leading Internet telephony company, said this week at 3GSM World Congress that Motorola would launch a lineup of products that are dubbed “Skype Ready,” including cell phones and handsets.   The two companies will explore opportunities broadly across both companies, leveraging Motorola’s Continue Reading →

James Dao reports: If Mayor John F. Street has his way, by next year this 135-square-mile metropolis will become one gigantic wireless hot spot, offering every neighborhood high-speed access to the Web at below-market prices in what would be the largest experiment in municipal Internet service in the country.   City officials envision a seamless Continue Reading →

The NY Times reports:   Those who have been looking forward to Kirstie Alley’s comedic role in “Fat Actress,” the new seven-episode reality-based series about her experiences as a woman who doesn’t meet Hollywood’s age and weight requirements, will have two viewing options when the first episode is shown next month. Showtime Networks announced yesterday Continue Reading →

Verizon was in the news again, announcing the launch of V Cast – a new service which provides almost full frame rate video to your 3G cell phone.  The service offers hundreds of feeds from popular content providers like NBC, CNN, FOX, etc.   There is a ton of experimentation going on with the format. Continue Reading →

Unless you live under a rock, you know about the Verizon-MCI deal.  I don’t want to comment about the business part of this merger, you can get about a zillion subject matter experts to weigh-in about the dollars and sense.  However, I do want to highlight the relative prominence of IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) in Continue Reading →

In a 4-to-1 vote, the FCC ruled that cable only “must-carry” one digital signal from each broadcast licensed station in their footprint.  This is being seen, rightly or wrongly, as a stunning defeat for the broadcasters and a serious win for the cable industry. “This is a major victory for consumers …” said exiting CEO Continue Reading →