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Popcorn Hour bulks up for the C-300, can juggle an extra hard-disk or Blu-ray drive (video)

Some people may not be willing just yet to leave the world of physical media. Those circumspect media consumers may be intrigued by the latest Popcorn Hour box. Looking more substantial than the recent A-300, the C-300 model includes a 2.5-inch color TFT display at the front and packs space for both a quick-removable 3.5-inch HDD and an internal 2.5-inch SATA drive. A Blu-ray drive can also be mounted to the removable HD rack and you can expect support for the same plethora of file types we've come to expect from the Popcorn Hour family. Network options have been expanded, with a new built-in aerial supporting an optional Mini MII PCI WiFi N card. Syabas is already offering up a full UI walkthrough at the source below and you can take a peak at the C-300's built-in app market in action right after the break.

Continue reading Popcorn Hour bulks up for the C-300, can juggle an extra hard-disk or Blu-ray drive (video)

Popcorn Hour bulks up for the C-300, can juggle an extra hard-disk or Blu-ray drive (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/popcorn-hour-bulks-up-for-the-c-300-can-ju...

‘Fear Factor’ Dominates Social TV Conversation [STATS]


Fear Factor is back! Five years after being booted off the air, NBC’s gross-out stunt show returned to TV Monday night and dominated the social TV conversation.

Viewers generated more than 403,000 comments across social media websites during the two-hour premiere, according to data from Bluefin Labs. The reality show attracted 47% of all social comments for Monday’s primetime shows, beating out WWE Monday Night Raw (10%) and NFL Monday Night Football (9%).

Viewers were kept abuzz, thanks to gross stunts, action-packed challenges and commentary from host Joe Rogan. A cringe-tastic scorpion scene — in which teams of two fetched the eight-legged creatures out of black sludge and then ate 10 of them — was Fear Factor‘s high point of social media activity. That scene helped the show’s first hour net 218,000 comments compared to hour two’s 185,000 comments.

To put that data into perspective, The X Factor premiere in September garnered 190,000 comments. The X Factor is 2011′s number one social TV show in series programming, Bluefin Labs reports, and also routinely tops Mashable‘s weekly “20 TV Shows With the Most Social Media Buzz” list.

The Fear Factor contestants were competing to win $50,000. Stunts like these made the show, which first premiered in 2001, popular in the days before Twitter and Facebook. In those previous episodes, contestants devoured “delicacies” including cow bile, buffalo testicles and cave-dwelling spiders. Twitter publicly launched in July 2006, just a few months before NBC canceled Fear Factor.

Bluefin told Mashable that two other scenes stood out and incited plenty of comments. In one, Rogan says, “I hug my mom, but I let go,” referring to a close relationship between a mother-son team. In another, Rogan calls a contestant the “whitest man in America” and that he’d do well auditioning for future Twilight movies.

Check out Bluefin’s data below to see the Fear Factor moments that got viewers typing away. To watch the episodes online, click here. The scorpion scene starts about 20 minutes in.

More About: Bluefin Labs, Entertainment, Fear Factor, social tv, television

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from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2011/12/13/fear-factor-social-tv-buzz/?utm_source=feedbur...

5 Major Trends That Changed Digital Entertainment in 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, it’s time to look back and reflect on some of the major events, changes and trends across various industries. Social and digital media are having a profound impact on how media entertainment content is created, consumed and distributed.

Music, television, movies and casual games are expanding, contracting and evolving at a dizzying pace. Here are some of the highlights.


1. Social TV and the iPad Transform the Boob Tube



Like other parts of the entertainment industry, social and digital are changing the way television is made, watched and broadcast.

In 2011, social TV really started to come into its own. From the rise of entertainment checkin services like GetGlue and Miso, to integrated social and digital campaigns from networks and stars, social sites like Twitter and Facebook have become the real-time watercooler for discussing and disseminating content.

The result is that even though television ownership is on the decline, live television ratings are actually on the rise. It’s becoming increasingly important for viewers to watch a program as it happens, in order to interact with each other in real-time.

The concept of social TV wouldn’t work if the network and content creators weren’t on board. One of the biggest surprises of 2011 has been the extent to which networks and studios have embraced social TV, particularly using second screen apps. We can thank the iPad for that. The iPad and its success proved to leery network executives that engaging with viewers on multiple platforms was a necessity.

Moving into 2012, social TV campaigns will evolve and become more mature. It’s our hope that we can move to the next level, where social interaction becomes part of the show content itself.


2. Spotify and Subscription Streaming Disrupt Music Industry


Digital continues to transform the music industry.

Spotify, long the darling of the European music press, finally arrived in America to much fanfare. Competing against US-based rivals like Rdio, Rhapsody and MOG, Spotify has armed itself with a known brand name and strong Facebook integration.

This has re-opened the debate over whether music is owned or rented and how artists and labels are compensated for their works. It’s a complex problem and one that wasn’t decided in 2011 and likely won’t be settled in 2012.

Artists continue to use social networks, including Facebook and YouTube, to promote their music and their albums. Meanwhile, we’ve seen the rise of music shared experiences services, like Turntable.fm.

Artists and end-users are also flocking to services like SoundCloud for storing, remixing and distributing all types of audio.

Moving into 2012, the battle in the music subscription space will continue, and we expect to see the market converge and contract. The real opportunity is with social and bringing back the experience of listening to a playlist or album with a group of friends.


3. Movie Marketing is Socialized


It’s been a rough year at the box office, with receipts way down and few breakout hits. Marketing efforts are rapidly becoming social, as studios realize that reaching out to influencers online can yield a much bigger return on investment.

From blockbuster franchises like Harry Potter to lower-budget art films, social and digital are increasingly becoming tentpole parts of the promotional process. Directors, actors and producers are active on Twitter and Facebook. YouTube is increasingly used as a way to show previews and surprises.

The Muppets is one of the most socially savvy media campaigns we’ve ever seen, and the films success at the box office is a testament to this kind of marketing.

Meanwhile, startups like MoviePilot are dedicated to reaching the most avid and influential movie watchers, using Facebook and news content from around the web.

Moving into 2012, theater chains and studios are going to be using digital and social to lure audiences back into the theater — using 3D, motion capture and (we hope) quality storylines as a draw.


4. Casual Gaming Gets Serious


Although traditional console and PC gaming is still generating tons of revenue, there is a lot of momentum in the social and casual gaming space.

The continued success of Angry Birds, not just as a game but as a veritable franchise, proves that $50 million budgets and two and a half year production times are not required to create a gaming sensation.

Not even the PlayStation Network disaster could keep users from engaging in online play, whether it was through a PS3, Xbox 360, Wii or increasingly — an iPhone, iPad or Android device.

With Zynga’s upcoming IPO and its multi-billion dollar valuation, casual gaming is no longer a joke. It’s real and it’s going to be part of the future.

To wit, big studios are acquiring or creating smaller units dedicated to building smaller, iterative titles that can be updated more regularly and have smaller budgets.

Meanwhile, the graphical capabilities of portable and mobile devices continues to improve. A game like Infinity Blade 2 shows that we’re only scratching the surface and power of the handheld computers we carry with us 24 hours a day.

Moving into 2012, we expect that social and casual gaming will continue gain traction. As a public company, Zynga will need to prove itself. Is it the next EA or is it the next Acclaim.


5. Netflix Implodes: The Battle Over Content, Consumption and Ownership Continues


A central issue within the entertainment industry in 2011 was the battle over content ownership and distribution.

A year ago, it looked like Netflix would ultimately win the content wars, TV Everywhere was a pipe dream and that power would shift from the content owners to the distributors, like Netflix or Amazon.

A year later, the situation is utterly different. Rather than winning the content wars, Netflix faces increased competition from Hulu, Amazon and soon, YouTube.

Moreover, Netflix’s public meltdown over the summer proved just how valuable licensing content for streaming over the Internet can be. Content owners and rights holders want their piece of the pie and want more to get content online.

This has given TV Everywhere a real chance to succeed. HBO Go, the tremendously successful HBO initiative at offering cable subscribers access to content online, on mobile devices and supported set-top boxes, has shown that customers are willing to go through the hassle of logging in with a cable company ID. With more than 5 million downloads and 98 million streams in just six months, it’s the best case for TV Everywhere’s potential yet.

As content owners weigh the pros and cons of what to license, when to license and who to license content to, customers are the ones stuck in the middle.

The fantasy of first-run content on Netflix is little more than a pipe dream (Arrested Development not withstanding), but content is coming online, even if pure over-the-top plays are still financially unrealistic.

Battle over content and who gets it — in music, film and television will continue to be a big trend in 2012. Even on the casual gaming side, what platforms or networks support a property will continue to be an issue that game makers and game players face.

More About: Entertainment, features, Gaming, Movies, Music, TV

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from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2011/12/14/entertainment-trends-2011/?utm_source=feedburn...

TED Live Membership Offers You Virtual Seats at Conferences

TED


Technology Entertainment and Design (TED) launched TED Live Wednesday, offering a year-long membership package and “virtual seats” to TED and TED Global conferences. Individuals, schools and small businesses can now get remote access to the 18-minutes-or-less TED talks on big ideas, technology and design.

In addition to live webcast of the conferences, the package includes access to the TED Live online community, exclusive chat rooms and content coverage during each conference, access to a private Facebook group and TED.com messaging.

“TEDsters have asked us for a convenient and affordable way to enjoy TED all year long,” Tom Rielly, TED’s community director, said in a statement.

Much of the TED Live membership perks are closely tied to Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which is included in the package. You also get a TED Books subscription, offering two short ebooks, delivered automatically each month. TED Books, written by speakers and fellows, expand on the topics of their talks. You can also watch the TED Talks on your Kindle Fire. TED previously released apps for the iPhone and iPad.

The membership will have tiered prices depending on the institution. It costs $995 a year for individuals and primary or secondary schools $995 a year and $2,500 for colleges, universities and small businesses. Up to 10 people can watch the talks with the individual membership and 50 people can watch with the business package.

Does this sound like a gift worth giving or a membership you’d enjoy? Let us know in the comments.

Photo courtesy of James Duncan Davidson/TED

More About: kindle fire, TED, ted global

from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2011/12/14/ted-live-membership/?utm_source=feedburner&utm...

YouTube, Verizon FiOS TV and more video services roll out to Xbox Live

Those in the preview program may have already gotten an early taste of YouTube on the Xbox 360, but everyone else can now download that and more. Microsoft announced today that the first big wave of video services for the console are available in the Apps Marketplace, including Verizon FiOS TV for US users and Rogers on Demand for those in Canada. Those are joined by a number of other video and entertainment services including iHeartRadio and MSNBC.com (both US only), TMZ (US and Canada), and MSN Video (in Canada and some other countries, but not the US). Those outside of North America also have a few options of their own, including SBS On Demand for Australian users, Blinkbox in the UK, RTVE for Spain, and MUZU TV for a number of European countries. As for the remaining services, including the likes of Comcast and HBO Go, Microsoft is still only saying that they'll roll out later in December and in early 2012.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

YouTube, Verizon FiOS TV and more video services roll out to Xbox Live originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/youtube-verizon-fios-tv-and-more-video-ser...

Twitter Is 2011′s Most-Buzzed About Social Network


Twitter topped an annual list of most-buzzed about social networks, edging ahead of LinkedIn and 2010′s most-buzzed network YouTube.

The annual rankings by digital marketing agency Zeta Interactive measure volume (number of mentions in more than 200 million blogs, social media outlets and online posts) and tone (comparing positive and negative buzz). The Zeta Buzz score is calculated by the volume ranking multiplied by the percent positive ranking divided by 10, using data pulled since January 2011.

“2011 is the year of twitter,” Zeta Interactive CEO Minna Rhee told Mashable. “For culture, breaking news and celebrities it is the social network. I think that’s reflected in the much more positive tonal ranking.”

Facebook, the world’s largest social network, finished fourth, despite its superior size. The network had the most negative buzz of the top 10, with only 70% of discussion considered positive.

LinkedIn’s second place finish, Rhee suspects, is because of the job creation hype. “This is a market where people are concerned about staying connected with professional contacts. They need to stay connected from a personal perspective.”

Rhee is most interested in the rise of two list newcomers, Meetup (sixth place) and Ning (ninth). She believes the two’s rise reflects a heightened desire for personal, local content. The two social networks had the highest tonal rankings, with 93% positive buzz.

On the decline are photo and video-sharing services YouTube (third) and Flickr (eighth), which fell behind their 2010 rankings when they finished first and second, respectively.

Google+ did not finish in the top 10, due in large part to its late June launch. Overall, Google’s nascent social network finished 12th on the annual list, unable to make up for lost time before its inception. The new network received 89% positive buzz, indicating it will be a strong contender to perform well in the coming year.

Take a look at the complete rankings below. What site would you call 2011′s social network of the year? Let us know your choice in the comments.

More About: Facebook, linkedin, Twitter, YouTube


from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2011/12/14/twitter-social-buzz-2011/?utm_source=feedburne...

Consumers Not Turning to Social Media Sites for Local Business Info [STUDY]


People who look for information about local restaurants and businesses are turning to the Internet but not social media sites, according to a new study.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project found that the Internet far outpaces other sources for local business information, followed by newspapers and word of mouth. Yet people rely very little on sites such as Facebook and Twitter for this type of information.

More than half (51%) of adults who look for news and information about local restaurants, bars and clubs use the Internet to do so. About 38% of this demographic performs search engine queries for local restaurant information, while 17% visit specialty sites. Only 3% said they turn to social networking sites.

Even more surprising is that only one percent of those who look for information about local businesses beyond restaurants — such as retail stores — turn to social networking sites. The news comes as more local restaurants and businesses focus marketing initiatives around social media sites.

Small businesses aren’t convinced about the impact of social media either. A study revealed last month that only 12% of local businesses considered using social media a “must” for their business, while 50% said they couldn’t do without word-of-mouth marketing.

Meanwhile, the more recent Pew report found that newspapers remain popular for finding out information about local businesses. Among the 31% of culture seekers who prefer this method, about 26% read printed copies while 5% visit their favorite newspaper sites. Word of mouth is also a popular way to find out information about local spots, with 23% of respondents who look for business information reporting that as their favored approach.

People who seek out information and news about local businesses and restaurants are more likely to have college educations and earn a salary of $75,000, according to Pew. This group is also more likely to be young female adults living in urban environments.

The study was conducted over the phone among 2,251 adults age 18 and older, with a margin of error of 2.4%.

Are you surprised that more people aren’t turning to social media sites for local business information? What can local businesses do to make its social networking profiles more of a destination for information?

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Jirsak

More About: Facebook, local businesses, Marketing, Pew Internet, Small Business, Twitter

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from Mashable! http://mashable.com/2011/12/15/consumers-not-using-social-media-local-busines...

Time Warner Cable shows Android some love with My TWC app and TWC TV for phones

We're still waiting for Time Warner to bring its live TV streaming to Android, but the platform is enjoying some exclusive support today with two new apps. The first is the My TWC account management app which lets subscribers view their services, pay bills, adjust call forwarding and, soon, tap into their voicemail remotely. The other one is a new version of its TWC TV app, reformatted to work on phones even while the TWCable TV app on iOS is still a tablet only affair. iPhone and Android owners alike shouldn't have to wait long for their relief however, as the iPhone edition is slated to arrive in January, and ICS-enabled live TV streaming is still on the roadmap for "early next year." Hit up the corporate blog for the full feature lists and breakdowns, or just head over to the Android Market to install either free app.

Continue reading Time Warner Cable shows Android some love with My TWC app and TWC TV for phones

Time Warner Cable shows Android some love with My TWC app and TWC TV for phones originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/17/time-warner-cable-shows-android-some-love-...