Myspace For Sale / Delicious Sold
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that News Corp. is hoping to sell Myspace for $100 million.
According to the paper, three potential buyers are interested in the social networking site : private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners, Redscout Ventures and Bebo owner Criterion Capital Partners.
Meanwhile Yahoo has managed to sell Delicious, its bookmarking service, to Youtube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen Yesterday for an undisclosed amount.
Another Security Breach
WARNING – Playstation Network users should change their passwords and security questions as soon as possible !
An unknown number of user accounts have been breached from April 17th and April 19th, 2011 according to Sony, allowing intruders access to personal information.
This information includes profile information (names, addresses), purchase history, password and security question information.
PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are currently offline as a security firm investigates the security breaches. And Sony advises users that they will never ask for credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information by email or phone.
Google Videos Moving To Youtube
According to a recent blog entry, Google is moving their video content to Youtube.
This means people who have uploaded content to Google will be given an option to download this content durring the migration, as well as information on how to migrate this content to Youtube.
The previously published deadline, which was April 29th, 2011, has been reversed and the content will remain accessible for the time being.
IMSLP Attacked By UK Music Publishers
The International Music Score Library Project was knocked offline temporarily this week by a DMCA complaint by the Music Publisher’s Association (UK).
Appearently they had attempted to impose EU copyright laws on this Canadian site because the IMSLP had published Sergei Rachmaninoff‘s “The Bells, Op.35“, a score that is considered public domain in Canada and the United States.
This score had been originally published prior to 1923 and in countries where copyright is limited to 50 years after the death of the composer the material is public domain. In 1993 the European Union had adopted a term of 70 years instead of 50, resulting in a complaint in regards to this specific composition.
This incident has resulted in alot of discussions online in regards to Canada’s attempts to reform copyright and our conformity to international law.
Many Canadians are concerned that the European Union’s music publishers are attempting to impose their terms in Canada, the IMSLP having been previously subjected to a takedown in October 2007 by European classical music publishing firm Universal Edition over numerous compositions. And Canada is currently in talks with the European Union in regards to a free-trade pact, which includes discussions on intellectual property.
The Short Lived Flip
Who would have thought The Flip would have had such a short life.
It hit the market in May 2006, became a popular product for Youtubers over the following years, was purchased by Cisco for $590 million in 2009 and then taken out of production a few days back, on the 12th of April, 2011.
Quite frankly, I don’t get it.
Yes, there was some competition form the new phones. But I don’t like filming video with them. I prefer using a tripod mountable pocket camcorder, that nobody can just suddenly call to. I’d hate to need to run to the cell in the middle of filming to answer a call.
I am interested in purchasing a tablet computer later on, hopefully one with a video camera in it. But at the moment only a few of them have tripod mounts and my Kodak PlaySport
I am considering The Flip now though because the company has discounted their models by $20, $30 if you use the Flip10 coupon. They’re even offering free shipping and customization.
I’ve heard raves about the HD version from Youtubers over the years so i’m curious. It might be something to own until the Panasonic HM-TA20 Waterproof HD Pocket Camcorder
I guess it’s research time…
International Record Store Day 2011
Today is Record Store Day, a day in which Independent Record Stores through-out the world are celebrated and participate in various promotions.
A list of participating stores in Canada can be found on the Official Record Store Day website.