Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[About Time! 'This American Life' Finally Goes iPad]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/this-american-life-comes-to-ipad/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/this-american-life-comes-to-ipad/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/this-american-life-comes-to-ipad/#commentsNot to make gross generalizations, but it is pretty amazing that 'This American Life,' the NPR talk show hosted by hip geek Ira Glass, took this long to get to the iPad. NPR and iPads should have an intrinsic relationship, like Volkswagens and Macs, Starbucks and the New York Times. Once again, these are broad assumptions, but the Cult of Mac's reputation as NPR-listening, Toms-wearing folk isn't for naught. Too bad it's text only, but we certainly hope "Squirrel Cop" makes an appearance.

Disclaimer: This author works on a Mac and listens to NPR, and this was written while sipping a soy chai latte in a Brooklyn coffee shop.

SwitchedAbout Time! 'This American Life' Finally Goes iPad originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appscult of macCultOfMacipadira glassIraGlassmediathis american lifeThisAmericanLifetopyuppiesFri, 08 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Future of Online Customer Support Looks Like 'Minority Report']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/b-reels-3live-shop-brings-human-interaction-to-online-shopping/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/b-reels-3live-shop-brings-human-interaction-to-online-shopping/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/b-reels-3live-shop-brings-human-interaction-to-online-shopping/#comments
Online shopping can be a pretty solitary endeavor, unless you're shopping at B Reel's 3Live Shop. On the 3Live Shop, shoppers are invited to start video calls with sales reps, who can guide them through their purchases, using touchscreens to drag different products into the frame. According to B Reel, it's a "simple and personal" approach to online shopping -- assuming you're not averse to human interaction.

SwitchedFuture of Online Customer Support Looks Like 'Minority Report' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3liveadvertisingb reelBReelmediaOnlineShoppingpurchasesalesshoppingtopVideoCallWebThu, 07 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Britain's Oldest Working TV Up for Sale 75 Years After Purchase]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/britains-oldest-working-tv-up-for-sale-75-years-after-purchase/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/britains-oldest-working-tv-up-for-sale-75-years-after-purchase/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/britains-oldest-working-tv-up-for-sale-75-years-after-purchase/#comments marconi tv For a little over $8,000, you could be the proud owner of a 75-year-old Marconi television set -- the oldest working TV in Britain. The family of the set's late owner, G.B. Davis, is putting it up for auction later this month in London, where the set will likely sell for more than the $8K experts have projected. When Davis bought it, there was only one channel and one hour of programming every day. It ended up being a good investment, though; he only paid about $160.

SwitchedBritain's Oldest Working TV Up for Sale 75 Years After Purchase originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antiquesauctionbritainBritainsOldestTvGbDavismediaoldoldest+working+television+salesoldestworkingtelevisionsalesretrosalestelevisiontoptvukTue, 05 Apr 2011 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Royal Wedding Won't Be Filmed in 3-D, We Cry Lifelike Tears of Sorrow]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/royal-wedding-wont-be-filmed-in-3-d-we-cry-lifelike-tears-of-s/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/royal-wedding-wont-be-filmed-in-3-d-we-cry-lifelike-tears-of-s/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/royal-wedding-wont-be-filmed-in-3-d-we-cry-lifelike-tears-of-s/#commentsThe royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William is swelling to an unceasing, deafening and overexposed roar. We Yanks have been barraged with imitation wedding rings, iTunes soundtracks of the event and commemorative plates galore (SO. MANY. COMMEMORATIVE. PLATES.) But one sensory assault we won't have to endure is the hyperreal 3-D experience, despite the fact that the Queen Mother is totally down with the technology.

The Facebook updates, live Twitter feeds and other real-time media covering the wedding will still swarm us, but the third dimension is officially out. A royal spokesperson writes: "I know you have all become increasingly enthusiastic about 3-D and I'm sorry that this will come as a disappointment." Apparently, says the New York Times, the size of the 3-D equipment is simply too large for the lobby to handle. Nuts.

SwitchedRoyal Wedding Won't Be Filmed in 3-D, We Cry Lifelike Tears of Sorrow originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-D3DcelebritiesKateMiddletonmediaPrinceWilliamRoyalWeddingtopTue, 05 Apr 2011 11:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Scams Condé Nast Out of $8 Million With a Single E-mail]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/andy-surface-scams-conde-nast-8-million-via-email/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/andy-surface-scams-conde-nast-8-million-via-email/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/andy-surface-scams-conde-nast-8-million-via-email/#comments condé nast logo The U.S. Attorney's Office in New York has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Condé Nast after a scammer named Andy Surface swindled the company out of $8 million. Posing as a rep from printing company Quad/Graphics Inc., Surface sent an electronic payment form to Condé Nast in early November, asking the company to wire future payments to his account in Texas. Condé complied, but discovered the fraud in December. Forbes has an insufferably pun-laden piece on the saga. Decipher it at your own risk.

SwitchedMan Scams Condé Nast Out of $8 Million With a Single E-mail originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy surfaceAndySurfaceconde nastconde+nast+forbesconde+nest+8+million+emailCondeNastcondenastforbescondenest8millionemailcrimelawsuitmagazinemediamoneypaymentPublishingscamtopWebTue, 05 Apr 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Denies Working on A Freaky Facial Recognition App]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/google-denies-freak-facial-recognition-app/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/google-denies-freak-facial-recognition-app/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/google-denies-freak-facial-recognition-app/#comments cnn vs. google Updated after the break.

Internet intrigue! A CNN story by Mark Milian reported that Google is working on a facial-recognition app that would be deployed in a manner similar to Google Goggles -- snap a picture of someone's face, and it leads back to their Google profile, more or less. We were all about to scream, "GOOGLE TO DESTROY LAST VESTIGES OF PRIVACY (AGAIN)" when suddenly we saw all of the retractions and updates screaming across our feeds: Google says much of the story is falsified.

An email from a Google spokesperson to Time's Techland reads thus:
I left you a voicemail about this, but saw your story based on CNN's speculative and inaccurate piece on a face recognition app and wanted to reach out -- your story is wrong because CNN's story is wrong. In fact, we are NOT "introducing a mobile application" (as the CNN piece claims) and as we've said for over a year, we would NOT add face recognition to any app like Goggles unless there was a strong privacy model in place. A number of items "reported" in the story, such as a potential app connecting phone numbers, email addresses and other information with a person's face, are purely speculative and are inventions of the reporter.

Continue reading Google Denies Working on A Freaky Facial Recognition App

SwitchedGoogle Denies Working on A Freaky Facial Recognition App originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appcnnfacial recognitionFacialRecognitiongooglemark milianMarkMilianmediatopThu, 31 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Condition ONE Makes War Footage Immersive and Interactive]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/condition-one-makes-war-footage-immersive-and-interactive/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/condition-one-makes-war-footage-immersive-and-interactive/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/condition-one-makes-war-footage-immersive-and-interactive/#comments Condition One iPad App Despite unceasing conflict around the globe, war journalism has fallen on hard times. In the words of award-winning war correspondent Danfung Dennis, the art of photojournalism is "dying." Dennis has created a new system, called Condition ONE, which he hopes will breathe new life into wartime videography by creating an immersive and interactive experience.

There are several parts to the Condition ONE system, the first of which is an extreme wide-angle lens that Dennis says recreates the human field of vision -- partly by distorting the edge of the frame to mimic peripheral vision. The second and perhaps more interesting part is the media cockpit, which projects the image onto a large domed screen that envelops the viewer, allowing him or her to gaze around the unfolding scene. There is also an iPad app in which you can "look" around -- either by using your finger to scan the landscape, or by holding the iPad in front of you and looking around, just as you would with many augmented reality apps.

Continue reading Condition ONE Makes War Footage Immersive and Interactive

SwitchedCondition ONE Makes War Footage Immersive and Interactive originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsConditionOneDanfungDennisiosipadjournalismmediaphotojournalismtopvideographyWed, 30 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Read This: How the iPod Has Changed Our Cultural Fabric]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/read-this-how-the-ipod-has-changed-our-cultural-fabric/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/read-this-how-the-ipod-has-changed-our-cultural-fabric/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/read-this-how-the-ipod-has-changed-our-cultural-fabric/#comments
The danger now is different. The man no longer needs a monopoly on musical taste. He just wants a few cents on the dollar of every song you download, he doesn't care what that song says. Other times he doesn't even care if you pay that dollar, as long as you listen to your stolen music on his portable MP3 player, store it on his Apple computer, send it to your friends through his Verizon network. To paraphrase Yeltsin's famous offer to the Chechens, take as much free music as you can stomach. We'll see where it gets you.
n+1's Nikal Saval undertakes a thorough and disheartening examination of digital music, the iPod and the pluralistic state of taste, drawing on sociological and cultural texts from Pierre Bourdieu and Theodor Adorno. In it, he contends that the personalized experience of the iPod is isolating, consumerist and deafening. When sound is everywhere, the most valuable cultural commodity is silence.

Image from lbphotovn

SwitchedRead This: How the iPod Has Changed Our Cultural Fabric originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DigitalMusicfutureipodmediamp3musicPierreBourdieuPortableMusicTheodorAdornotopTue, 29 Mar 2011 15:35:00 EST<![CDATA[New York Times Drops Paywall Subscriptions to $0.99... For Now]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/new-york-times-drops-paywall-subscriptions-to-0-99-for-now/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/new-york-times-drops-paywall-subscriptions-to-0-99-for-now/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/new-york-times-drops-paywall-subscriptions-to-0-99-for-now/#comments With its paywall rolling out in the U.S. this afternoon, the New York Times is attempting to sweeten the deal with $0.99 subscriptions for the first four weeks of subscription. (Why, that's a 97-percent savings!) The Times is obviously doing this out of the goodness of its heart, and the sale certainly doesn't imply that the paper's nervous about its paywall implementation. Nope, not nervous in the least. Why ever would it be?

SwitchedNew York Times Drops Paywall Subscriptions to $0.99... For Now originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>medianewspaperNewYorkTimesNewYorkTimesPaywallPayWalltimestopwebMon, 28 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fake Rahm Emanuel Tweets To Be Published IRL]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/fake-rahm-emanuel-tweets-to-be-published-irl/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/fake-rahm-emanuel-tweets-to-be-published-irl/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/fake-rahm-emanuel-tweets-to-be-published-irl/#comments @mayoremanuel tweet Ordinarily, we're not crazy about Twitter accounts (or Tumblrs, or blogs) getting book deals. It's a little too IRL for us; plus, maybe, we're kinda jealous. But we're nothing but thrilled for @MayorEmanuel, which landed a deal with Scribner to release a book this summer.

In case you don't remember (philistine!), @MayorEmanuel was the surprisingly beautiful, if profanity-laden account of the man who would be mayor. Brainchild of Chicago journalism professor Dan Sinker, the account skyrocketed in popularity and scored Sinker a stint on 'The Colbert Report' as well as a meeting with (the real) Rahm Emanuel. The book, meanwhile, will feature an intro from Biz Stone. All in all, not too shabby a lark.

SwitchedFake Rahm Emanuel Tweets To Be Published IRL originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biz stoneBizStonebooksfake twitter accountsFakeTwitterAccountsliteraturemayoremanuelmediaRahm EmanuelRahmEmanuelscribnertoptwitterFri, 25 Mar 2011 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[NYTimes Extends Paywall Limit, as Coders Jump Over Wall and Reporters Game System]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/new-york-times-paywall-extends-javascript-hack/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/new-york-times-paywall-extends-javascript-hack/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/new-york-times-paywall-extends-javascript-hack/#comments new york times paywall overlay Either Google pitched a fit, or the New York Times got savvy to the fact that not everyone searches with Google. (Wait, they don't?) Either way, TechCrunch is reporting that the paper decided to extend its five-article-per-day referral limit to all "major" search engines.

It's an intelligent-enough about-face from the initial policy, which the Times said would apply only to Google. After all, why not plug a loophole that allowed users to access endless free articles by utilizing other search engines? But TechCrunch questions whether the other search engines even have the functionality to implement this cap.

Continue reading NYTimes Extends Paywall Limit, as Coders Jump Over Wall and Reporters Game System

SwitchedNYTimes Extends Paywall Limit, as Coders Jump Over Wall and Reporters Game System originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementadvertisingbookmarkletDavid HayesDavidHayesforbesjavascriptmediaNewYorkTimesNiemanJournalismLabnytnytimesnytimes.comPayWallSocialNetworkingtechcrunchtopwebTue, 22 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[AP Kicks Hyphens to the Curb: 'Email' and 'Cellphone' Now Real Words]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/ap-pulls-email-hyphen-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/ap-pulls-email-hyphen-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/ap-pulls-email-hyphen-cellphone/#commentsAs it did last year around this time, the Associated Press is making some tech-term related changes to its style guide. Hence forth 'e-mail' will be 'email,' 'cell phone' will be 'cellphone' and 'smart phone' will be 'smartphone.' Game-changing? No. But it's interesting to see the language evolve. The terms are no longer merely abbreviations for things like electronic mail or cellular telephone -- they're words unto themselves.

SwitchedAP Kicks Hyphens to the Curb: 'Email' and 'Cellphone' Now Real Words originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apap style guideApStyleGuidecell phoneCellPhonee-mailemailmediasmart phoneSmartPhonetopFri, 18 Mar 2011 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Bob Woodward Blames Google For Killing Newspapers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/bob-woodward-blames-google-for-killing-newspapers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/bob-woodward-blames-google-for-killing-newspapers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/bob-woodward-blames-google-for-killing-newspapers/#commentsWelcome back to Let's Play The Blame Game: Celebrity Edition! Earlier this week, Bon Jovi claimed Steve Jobs killed the music business; now Bob Woodward says Eric Schmidt snuffed out newspapers. The Washington Post journalist, made famous by uncovering and breaking the Watergate scandal, told the Poynter Institute that the tombstone of Google's soon-to-be-former CEO should read "I killed newspapers." Newspapers are dead?! Clearly, he hasn't seen this.

SwitchedBob Woodward Blames Google For Killing Newspapers originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob woodwardBobWoodwardgooglemedianewspaperspoyntertopwashington postWashingtonPostwebWoodwardThu, 17 Mar 2011 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[New York Times Digital Subscription Plans Cuts Apple In on the Action]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/apple-gets-in-on-new-york-times-subscription/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/apple-gets-in-on-new-york-times-subscription/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/apple-gets-in-on-new-york-times-subscription/#comments New York Times After over a year of planning, the New York Times has finally unveiled its new paywall system, and one of the major beneficiaries may wind up being Apple. In addition to selling website subscriptions directly to readers, the Times will offer plans through the Apple App Store. That means that, in compliance with Apple's new subscription policy, the paper will hand over 30-percent of the revenue to the House of Jobs.

You can check out our breakdown of the paywall options here. The best deal, however remains the print subscription. New Yorkers can get the print edition, which includes unfettered digital access, for around $25 a month for four weeks. The price is higher for non-New York residents, but often still comes in under $35. Though the New York Times wants to offer the convenience of a digital subscription, it's clear that its most cherished customers will continue to be print subscribers.

SwitchedNew York Times Digital Subscription Plans Cuts Apple In on the Action originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappleappsiosmedianew york timesNewYorkTimessubscriptiontopwebThu, 17 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Viral Ads Grow Ever More Subtle -- But Are They Effective?]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/times-square-iphone-ad-hoax-viral-ads-subtle/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/times-square-iphone-ad-hoax-viral-ads-subtle/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/times-square-iphone-ad-hoax-viral-ads-subtle/#comments Remember the video of the mysterious hacker taking over the video monitors in Times Square? The one we were all sure was fake, probably? Well, the cynical among you can strike a smug pose because not only is the video fake, it's a viral ad for the upcoming Bradley Cooper vehicle 'Limitless.' Miss it? Scroll to 1:26, when the hacker tackles the big screen. Oh, whaddya know, that screen is playing a trailer for 'Limitless.'

The video was made by viral marketing company Thinkmondo, and has received well over a million views on YouTube. (No surprise there, since its topic is pitch-perfect for spawning online conversation.) But what of it? The ad component was so subtle that, had the media not latched onto the story of its viral-ness, it seems unlikely that 'Limitless' would ever come up. And while the directors surely counted on the media doing so, the next video or five mirroring this strategy would certainly fail. The story's already been done.

Continue reading Viral Ads Grow Ever More Subtle -- But Are They Effective?

SwitchedViral Ads Grow Ever More Subtle -- But Are They Effective? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementadvertisingbitcrash44Limitlessmediamoviesnewsmainsmart waterthinkmondotimes squareTimesSquarevideoviral videoViralVideoThu, 17 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[New York Times to Introduce Digital Paywall on March 28th]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/new-york-times-to-introduce-digital-paywall-on-march-28th/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/new-york-times-to-introduce-digital-paywall-on-march-28th/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/new-york-times-to-introduce-digital-paywall-on-march-28th/#comments new york times online On March 28th, the New York Times will begin charging all but the most infrequent users to read articles online.

Under the plan, users will be able to read 20 articles per month at no charge. Once they click on the 21st piece, however, they'll be presented with three payment options: $15 for four weeks a month of online and mobile app access, $20 for access to the site and the iPad app, or $35 for access to everything. People who already receive the paper through home delivery will enjoy free and unlimited access to the Times on all platforms, except on e-readers like the Kindle and the Nook.

Continue reading New York Times to Introduce Digital Paywall on March 28th

SwitchedNew York Times to Introduce Digital Paywall on March 28th originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arthur sulzbergerArthurSulzbergerbusinesscontentdigitaljournalismmediamoneynew york timesnew york times paywallnew+york+times+paymentnewsnewspaperNewYorkTimesnewyorktimespaymentNewYorkTimesPaywallPayWalltopWebThu, 17 Mar 2011 11:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix Taking on HBO With Original Programing?]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/netflix-original-programming-david-fincher-kevin-spacey/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/netflix-original-programming-david-fincher-kevin-spacey/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/netflix-original-programming-david-fincher-kevin-spacey/#comments Netflix Rumor has it that Netflix, no longer content as a mere outlet for streaming video, is making a serious run at becoming a producer and distributor of original content. The company previously helped bankroll and distribute independent features through its Red Envelope Entertainment division (including the stellar and depressing 'Born into Brothels'). But the division has been largely quiet since 2008, when it closed up shop in an apparent effort to avoid competing with the studios with which it was attempting to strike content deals. But since then, the company has gone from popular DVD rental service with legitimate competitors to practically peerless leader in streaming video industry. Now Netflix appears poised to reenter the content game.

Continue reading Netflix Taking on HBO With Original Programing?

SwitchedNetflix Taking on HBO With Original Programing? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>house of cardsHouseOfCardsmedianetflixstreaming videoStreamingVideotopTVWed, 16 Mar 2011 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Extra, Extra: Online News and Ad Sales Overtake Print]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/online-news-ad-sales-overtake-print/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/online-news-ad-sales-overtake-print/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/online-news-ad-sales-overtake-print/#comments Call it. Time of death: 2010. For the first time, online news readership and ad revenue has surpassed its print counterpart in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center. Released today, the fact-tank's State of the News Media report noted that 41-percent of Americans get "most of their news about national and international issues" from the Internet -- a 17-percent jump from last year. Meanwhile, 46-percent get news online at least three times a week. Only 40-percent get information from printed news as frequently.

The numbers shouldn't be particularly surprising to anyone who has, well, been reading the news for the past few years. Shuttered papers, shrunken newsrooms and an influx of digital journalism initiatives have all led to an inevitable tipping point.

Continue reading Extra, Extra: Online News and Ad Sales Overtake Print

SwitchedExtra, Extra: Online News and Ad Sales Overtake Print originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>medianewspaperonline newsOnlineNewspew research centerPewResearchCenterstudytopwebMon, 14 Mar 2011 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[iPad Magazines Encourage 'Exploration,' May Be a Boon to Advertisers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/ipad-magazines-encourage-exploration-may-be-a-boon-to-adverti/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/ipad-magazines-encourage-exploration-may-be-a-boon-to-adverti/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/ipad-magazines-encourage-exploration-may-be-a-boon-to-adverti/#comments Popular Science+ With print media on the decline, many publishers were counting on tablets like the iPad to usher in a new era of interactive media, which would potentially save magazines from obsolescence and extinction. But a new study by Bonnier (the home of publications such as Popular Science and Field & Stream) and advertising firm CP&B has discovered what some might consider a serious problem: iPad readers often leave the magazine to perform other tasks.

Digital magazines are not a passive medium like their dead-tree ancestors. Instead, they serve as "exploration springboards." Readers will bounce around between apps and the Web, researching topics or checking prices of featured products on Amazon. But the important thing is that users stay within the realm of the magazine's content. "They weren't leaving the magazine to aimlessly surf, but to go to sites specifically relevant to what they'd just been reading," says Megan Miller, the R&D program director at Bonnier, in a e-mail. Some participants in the study even suggested that the activity demanded a new term -- "iPadding" -- to describe it. Clumsy attempts to verbify "iPad" aside, it's clear that what these consumers are doing is not just "reading."

Continue reading iPad Magazines Encourage 'Exploration,' May Be a Boon to Advertisers

SwitchediPad Magazines Encourage 'Exploration,' May Be a Boon to Advertisers originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonnieripadmagazinemediapopular sciencePopular Science+PopularSciencePopularScience+tablet pcTabletPctopwebThu, 10 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Warner Bros. Launches Facebook Movie Rental Program]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/the-dark-knight-facebook-movie-rental/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/the-dark-knight-facebook-movie-rental/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/the-dark-knight-facebook-movie-rental/#commentsFans of 'The Dark Knight' can now rent the film on Facebook through a new program that Warner Bros. began testing today. Users who "like" the film's page can rent it for 30 Facebook credits ($3), giving them a 48-hour window to stream it. During that rental period, fans can leave comments on the movie, or pause and resume it as many times as they like, simply by logging into Facebook. Warner expects to expand the program to other movies and incorporate digital purchases in the "near future."

SwitchedWarner Bros. Launches Facebook Movie Rental Program originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmandark knightDarkKnightfacebookfilmlikemediamoviesrentalsSocialNetworkingstreamingthe dark knightTheDarkKnighttopwarner+brothersWebTue, 08 Mar 2011 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Robert Thurman 'Loved' Groupon's Tibetan Super Bowl Commercial]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/robert-thurman-loved-groupons-tibetan-super-bowl-commercial/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/robert-thurman-loved-groupons-tibetan-super-bowl-commercial/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/robert-thurman-loved-groupons-tibetan-super-bowl-commercial/#commentsGroupon's infamous Super Bowl commercials caused quite a stir last month, and the company was eventually shamed into issuing an apology. But Robert Thurman, Tibetan Buddhist scholar and father of actress Uma, says he didn't have a problem with the Groupon spot that satirized pro-Tibet activism. "That was great -- I loved that," Thurman told the New York Observer. "Some people in the Tibetan movement who were more P.C. or pious thought it was being trivialized." Instead, Thurman interpreted the ad as "an ironic, self-deprecatory thing," adding, "It was foolish of a few P.C. hothead Tibetophiles to get upset about it."

SwitchedRobert Thurman 'Loved' Groupon's Tibetan Super Bowl Commercial originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbuddhismcommercialGrouponRobertThurmanSuperBowlAdstibettopUmaThurmanwebThu, 03 Mar 2011 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Heather Armstrong Reigns Over Blogdom With Dooce.com]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/heather-armstrong-reigns-over-blogdom-with-dooce-com/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/heather-armstrong-reigns-over-blogdom-with-dooce-com/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/heather-armstrong-reigns-over-blogdom-with-dooce-com/#commentsWhen asked what we do for work, we often wince before saying, "I'm a blogger." It's because, for most folks, the term likely describes a twenty-something nerd who lives in his mother's basement, collects unemployment, and writes in his LiveJournal about black metal bands. Thanks to the New York Times' profile of Heather Armstrong, though, "blogger" might soon mean an independently wealthy media personality with a family and a six-bedroom house.

SwitchedHeather Armstrong Reigns Over Blogdom With Dooce.com originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogbloggerbloggingdooceHeatherArmstrongmediatopwebSat, 26 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get Al Jazeera on Your TV, Even if Your Cable Provider Doesn't Carry It]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/stream-al-jazeera-your-tv/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/stream-al-jazeera-your-tv/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/stream-al-jazeera-your-tv/#comments Al Jazeera Al Jazeera has been one of the best sources of news coming out of the Middle East lately. The problem for news junkies like us is that cable and satellite companies in the U.S. don't carry it. You can watch it as a live stream on your PC, but who wants to squint at a 15-inch laptop screen when you've got a nice, 42-inch TV sitting in your living room? Thankfully, there are a few ways to get Al Jazeera English on your TV -- without launching an intense letter-writing campain to your local cable company. (But maybe you should?) Eric Spiegelman at The Awl breaks down how to use a Roku or a Google TV device to watch on your HD set. The Google TV method should work for the Boxee Box as well. Unfortunately, Apple TV users are left out in the cold. Even though Al Jazeera is available on YouTube, Apple TV's YouTube app doesn't support live streams. Jerks.

SwitchedGet Al Jazeera on Your TV, Even if Your Cable Provider Doesn't Carry It originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlJazeeraboxeeBoxeeBoxGoogleTvmedianewsrokutopTVThu, 24 Feb 2011 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA['American Idol' Adding Facebook to Voting Methods]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/american-idol-adding-facebook-to-voting-methods/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/american-idol-adding-facebook-to-voting-methods/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/american-idol-adding-facebook-to-voting-methods/#comments American Idol Facebook Surely tired of dealing with busy signals and spam texts, 'American Idol' fans will soon be able to ditch the tiresomely anachronistic practice of voting for favorite contestents by phone. 'Idol' addicts will be able to head to Facebook, and vote up to 50 times during a broadcast's designated voting period. The new voting page is expected to launch March 1st, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Switched'American Idol' Adding Facebook to Voting Methods originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmericanIdolfacebookmediasocialnetworkingtoptvwebThu, 24 Feb 2011 15:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn Bed Intruder Basics in Gawker TV Editor's 'How to Go Viral' Class]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/how-to-go-viral-richard-blakeley-teaches-class/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/how-to-go-viral-richard-blakeley-teaches-class/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/how-to-go-viral-richard-blakeley-teaches-class/#comments isaiah mustafa Some say you can learn all you want about art -- technique, history, theory -- but, if you don't have that certain je ne sais quoi, your work won't be exquisite. Viral videos, perhaps, are kinda the same. So when Gawker.TV's Richard Blakeley sets out to teach a class to marketers on "how to go viral," it may be a little pointless. Sure, corporations have most certainly gotten it right, like the inimitable Old Spice Guy, but Blakeley's "six elements" for going viral seems to oversimplify something that has a tremendous amount to do with luck, the current media climate and good, old-fashioned humor. (For instance, why Isaiah Mustafa but not those grating E*TRADE baby ads?)

Still, the class only runs for an affordable $15 at New York's General Assembly. Apparently, Blakeley and the Assembly are friends, so it's safe to assume that, when the collective started offering classes, they asked the Gawker guy to explain what he knows best: Internet videos. Speaking primarily to marketers, Blakeley is hoping to teach that undefinable "x-factor" to hopefuls wanting to capture that hungry, hungry public looking for the next cool thing. Though he claims to have a sense of what can go viral, the issue is that, if there were a clear-cut path to viral videos, wouldn't every new campaign be a hit? Being self-aware and having a tiny budget does not a viral video make.

Continue reading Learn Bed Intruder Basics in Gawker TV Editor's 'How to Go Viral' Class

SwitchedLearn Bed Intruder Basics in Gawker TV Editor's 'How to Go Viral' Class originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingclassesgawkergawker.tvgeneral assemblyGeneralAssemblyhow to go viralHowToGoViralmediamemesold spiceold spice guyOldSpiceOldSpiceGuyrichard blakelyRichardBlakelytopviral videosViralVideoswebWed, 23 Feb 2011 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Discusses Broadcasting Live NBA, NHL Games on YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/google-may-broadcast-nba-nhl-games-live-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/google-may-broadcast-nba-nhl-games-live-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/google-may-broadcast-nba-nhl-games-live-youtube/#comments Last year, when YouTube broadcast an Indian Premier League Cricket tournament, rumors began to circulate about Google's plans to show more live sporting events on the video site. Now Google, the NBA and the NHL are discussing a plan to broadcast entire live games on YouTube -- possibly as soon as this fall or winter, according to Bloomberg News. Clearly, Google wants to broadcast live sports on YouTube because advertisers are more likely to spend money if viewers are spending more time on the site. "It's fair to say that there will be a lot more appealing sports content you'll see on YouTube," Gautam Anand, Google's director of content partnerships for Asia Pacific, recently told reporters. Anand wouldn't reveal any specific details about the company's talks with the NBA, NHL or any other pro sports leagues. But Brian Suh, YouTube's partnership head at Google in Korea, confirmed the talks by saying the company was in negotiations with "most pro sports leagues," which we'd think would mean some European soccer leagues, too. (Sorry, NFL fans, but don't expect the league to share any of its broadcasting rights)

SwitchedGoogle Discusses Broadcasting Live NBA, NHL Games on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlemediaNBAnhlsportsstreamingtopvideowebyoutubeWed, 23 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rebroadcasting TV Online for Profit Is Illegal, Says Judge]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/rebroadcasting-tv-online-for-profit-is-illegal-says-judge/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/rebroadcasting-tv-online-for-profit-is-illegal-says-judge/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/rebroadcasting-tv-online-for-profit-is-illegal-says-judge/#commentsivi TV Service The Internet streaming video service ivi just received a vicious rebuke from U.S. District Court Judge Naomi Buchwald of the Southern District of New York. Since its inception, the service has offered live TV streams from major broadcasters like Fox, NBC and PBS by simply snatching broadcasts out of the air and retransmitting them over the Web to paying customers. The problem is that the company made no agreement with the TV stations. As a result, the content providers banded together to file suit against the company. In its own defense, ivi defended claimed that it had operated within the law because it had paid $100 a year to the Copyright Office for a compulsory license, a relic of the 1970s that allowed young cable companies to retransmit broadcast television stations. But the judge ruled that ivi did not qualify for a Section 111 compulsory license, because the company was not a cable operator and offered the broadcasts nationally instead of to specific regions.

The judge ordered an immediate injunction against ivi to stop the retransmissions. Chances are, those who pay the $4.99 or $5.99 for a subscription will never get the service back. When it launched back in September, ivi was clearly on shaky legal ground, and many of us expected the service would be shut down rather quickly. We're kind of shocked it lasted even this long.

SwitchedRebroadcasting TV Online for Profit Is Illegal, Says Judge originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightivilawmediaStreamingVideotopwebTue, 22 Feb 2011 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Trendmap Documents Unfolding Libyan Tweets]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/trendmap-documents-libya-tweets/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/trendmap-documents-libya-tweets/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/trendmap-documents-libya-tweets/#comments trendmap The intense and precarious situation currently unfolding in the Middle East is keeping us captivated, and dramatically evolving news media is allowing people on the ground to be heard. But the amount of coverage is so vast that it's sometimes difficult to get an overview.

Trendmap -- which searches worldwide tweets to locate trends, shared links and frequently posted pictures -- has a robust Libya map, complete with different keywords, like "Gaddafi" and "#Feb17." Real-time updates pop up while top links or frequently retweeted comments statically sit at the top of the page. Videos are embedded within the page, which means no jumping back and forth to YouTube (and missing critical tweets as they occur). Most interestingly, you can opt to "View Globally," which will allow you to watch certain tweets with denoted terms emerge from specific regions (which is incredibly cool... if you can understand Arabic).

Continue reading Trendmap Documents Unfolding Libyan Tweets

SwitchedTrendmap Documents Unfolding Libyan Tweets originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>february 17February17gaddafilibyaLibyaProtestsmediaMuammarGaddafipoliticsSocialNetworkingtoptrendmapstwitterTwitterTrendswebTue, 22 Feb 2011 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA['Great Gatsby' Flick to Be Shot in 3-D]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/great-gatsby-movie-shot-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/great-gatsby-movie-shot-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/great-gatsby-movie-shot-in-3-d/#commentsIt sounds like a story line straight out of 'The Simpsons.' For the first time in years, a movie director will soon adapt 'The Great Gatsby' to the silver screen. Except this Gatsby will be in 3-D. And in Australia. Let's just hope that director Baz Lurhmann goes ahead, fully embraces absurdity, and writes in a few car chases.

Switched'Great Gatsby' Flick to Be Shot in 3-D originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-d3dBazLuhrmannGreatGatsbyliteraturelolzmediamoviestopweirdTue, 22 Feb 2011 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[New Radiohead Album Debuts Early. BUY. IT. NOW.]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/radiohead-king-of-limbs-download-out-lotus-flower/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/radiohead-king-of-limbs-download-out-lotus-flower/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/radiohead-king-of-limbs-download-out-lotus-flower/#commentsFans of Radiohead woke up to a treat this AM: the moody, groundbreaking Brit band's new album 'The King of Limbs,' hit the 'Net. While the album is more expensive than the pay-what-you-want 'In Rainbows,' this $48 opus is fully loaded: two 10-inch vinyl records, 625 pieces of artwork and, of course, the MP3 version. For the thrifty, the digital download is available for $9 now. Check out the eerie, dreamy video for the album's first single, 'Lotus Flower,' after the jump.

Continue reading New Radiohead Album Debuts Early. BUY. IT. NOW.

SwitchedNew Radiohead Album Debuts Early. BUY. IT. NOW. originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Album ReleaseAlbumReleaseIn RainbowsInRainbowsMp3Musicnew+radiohead+albumnew+radiohead+album+2011newradioheadalbumnewradioheadalbum2011RadioheadThe King Of LimbsTheKingOfLimbsThom YorkeThomYorkeTopWebFri, 18 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watson Thrashes Human Meatbags, Andy Richter Gets Revenge]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/watson-thrashes-humans-on-jeopardy-andy-richter-revenge/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/watson-thrashes-humans-on-jeopardy-andy-richter-revenge/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/watson-thrashes-humans-on-jeopardy-andy-richter-revenge/#comments Watson and Ken JenningsLast night saw the final round of competition between Watson, the 'Jeopardy'-playing supercomputer, and the two contestants selected to represent all mankind. Our delegates performed admirably, but, at the end of the day, that bundle of neurons we call the human brain simply couldn't stand up to that room full of servers and the avatar with 42 "thought threads" (a nod to the greatest book ever written). The depth of Watson's knowledge was impressive, but its ability to decipher natural language, (such as the clues' puns and riddles) was even more astounding. The questions aren't impossible. (Though we'd hardly go as far as to say a high schooler with Wikipedia access could ace them, as Paul Miller at Engadget suggests.) 'Jeopardy' is tough because of the clues' syntax and multi-layered references, which can't be answered by simply typing them into Google. The ability to analyze human language beyond simple fact-based queries is an astounding accomplishment for a machine, and the engineers at IBM should be proud of that alone. Trouncing the two greatest champions in 'Jeopardy' history is just a bonus. (The final scores weren't even close, with Ken Jennings placing second with $24,000 to Watson's $77,147.)
The longest running Jeopardy champ later wrote a piece for Slate describing his face-off with Watson. Jennings notes, "Playing against Watson turned out to be a lot like any other Jeopardy! game." He even points out that Watson has a lot in common with other 'Jeopardy' champs: "It's very smart, very fast, speaks in an uneven monotone, and has never known the touch of a woman." But Watson does have an advantage in that it "cannot be intimidated... [and] never gets cocky or discouraged." In the end, Jennings decided "there's no shame in losing to silicon." But if you're feeling a little less conciliatory, check out the pair of videos after the break, in which Andy Richter exacts some revenge on the future master of mankind. Hell hath no wrath like a talkshow sidekick scorned.

Continue reading Watson Thrashes Human Meatbags, Andy Richter Gets Revenge

SwitchedWatson Thrashes Human Meatbags, Andy Richter Gets Revenge originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndyRichterconangamingibmjeopardyjeopardy+watsonjeopardywatsonKenJenningsmediasciencetoptvwatsonwatson+jeopardywatson+on+jeopardywatsonjeopardywatsononjeopardyThu, 17 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Journalist Resigns After Mocking Lara Logan's Sexual Assault on Twitter]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/nir-rosen-resigns-after-mocking-lara-logan-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/nir-rosen-resigns-after-mocking-lara-logan-twitter/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/nir-rosen-resigns-after-mocking-lara-logan-twitter/#commentsnir rosen and lara logan Journalist Nir Rosen has resigned from his post at New York University, after posting a series of controversial and unbelievably stupid tweets about Lara Logan -- the CBS News correspondent who was physically and sexually assaulted by a mob in Cairo earlier this month.

On February 15th, Rosen tweeted that the correspondent was simply trying to keep up with Anderson Cooper, who had also been attacked in Egypt. "Lara Logan had to outdo Anderson. Where was her buddy McCrystal," read one tweet, which has since been deleted from Rosen's account. "Yes yes it's wrong what happened to her," read another. "Of course. I don't support that. But it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too." He went on to say that everyone should remember her as a "war monger," rather than glorifying her as a "martyr."

Continue reading Journalist Resigns After Mocking Lara Logan's Sexual Assault on Twitter

SwitchedJournalist Resigns After Mocking Lara Logan's Sexual Assault on Twitter originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndersonCoopercairoegyptlara loganlara+logan+assaultLaraLoganlaraloganassaultmedianir+rosenNirRosenpoliticsSexualAssaultSocialNetworkingtoptwitterWebThu, 17 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Read This: Most Commenters Are Not 8-Years Old!]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/read-this-most-commenters-are-not-8-years-old/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/read-this-most-commenters-are-not-8-years-old/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/read-this-most-commenters-are-not-8-years-old/#comments
The reason I actually like commenters is that they're grown, thinking, playful adults, doing their own thing, with diverse opinions and backgrounds and therefore something to bring to the table. So you are grown up enough to own your behavior and treat people (at least pretty much) the way you'd want to be treated. That is why we have a successful commenting community of smarties: because you get to act in the way you see fit, and it's not because someone's patting you on the head like you were a particularly smart golden lab (which is to say, not that smart, because man, I had to fend off a lab the other day that was trying to get through me to kill its reflection in the mirror, it was not very impressive).
The Awl's Choire Sicha breaks down why commenters are not 8-years old, why they should not be treated like golden retrievers, and why respect, in the blogosphere, is crucial.

SwitchedRead This: Most Commenters Are Not 8-Years Old! originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commentcommenterscommentsdiscussionetiquettenetiquettetopWed, 16 Feb 2011 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Watson Dominates 'Jeopardy,' but Confuses Canada and U.S.]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/watson-rules-jeopardy-toronto-confusion/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/watson-rules-jeopardy-toronto-confusion/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/watson-rules-jeopardy-toronto-confusion/#comments Watson Screws Up Geography Yesterday saw Day Two of the great showdown between man and machine on 'Jeopardy.' So, how did Watson do? Well, to say he spanked Jennings and Rutter would be an understatement. But the supercomputer did suffer an embarrassing setback during Final Jeopardy. The category: U.S. Cities. Watson's answer: "Toronto?????" Apparently its vast database of knowledge doesn't include third-grade geography.

Continue reading Watson Dominates 'Jeopardy,' but Confuses Canada and U.S.

SwitchedWatson Dominates 'Jeopardy,' but Confuses Canada and U.S. originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computersIBMIbmWatsonjeopardymediatelevisiontoptvwatsonwatson+jeopardywatson+jeopardy+torontowatson+torontowatsonjeopardywatsonjeopardytorontowatsontorontoWed, 16 Feb 2011 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Glenn Beck Says Google is a Front for the U.S. Government]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/glenn-beck-says-google-is-a-front-for-the-u-s-government/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/glenn-beck-says-google-is-a-front-for-the-u-s-government/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/glenn-beck-says-google-is-a-front-for-the-u-s-government/#commentsOn Monday, Tea Party darling Glenn Beck accused Google of being "in bed" with the U.S. government. The self-styled revealer of history's secrets went even further, insinuating that the company doesn't just cooperate with our oppressive socialist regime, but that it acts as a front for The Government, promoting American interests overseas. Beck warned viewers not to rely on Google searches for their information, asking them instead, "Are you comfortable with the government partnering covertly with media organizations, search engines, social networking, so they can bring change that the Washington elites have design?"

There's no denying that Google and the U.S. share some goals in common. Google is a firm believer in freedom of information, democracy and a vocal proponent of human rights. The two might even work together from time to time in an attempt to achieve these goals. But to suggest that Google is lying to you via search results and that it's part of a "propaganda" arm of the government is patently ridiculous. Check out the video below.

Continue reading Glenn Beck Says Google is a Front for the U.S. Government

SwitchedGlenn Beck Says Google is a Front for the U.S. Government originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesconspiracyglenn beckglenn+beck+googleGlennBeckglennbeckgooglegooglegovernmentmediapoliticstopTue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watson Holds His Own on 'Jeopardy,' Fails to Entertain]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/watson-holds-his-own-on-jeopardy-fails-to-entertain/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/watson-holds-his-own-on-jeopardy-fails-to-entertain/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/watson-holds-his-own-on-jeopardy-fails-to-entertain/#comments Watson on Jeopardy Last night, IBM's Watson made his television debut, taking on two of the most successful champions in 'Jeopardy' history, Ken Jennings (winner of 75 matches in a row) and Brad Rutter (who holds the all-time Jeopardy cash winnings record). In the first round of play, the IBM supercomputer got off to a roaring start, trouncing the two champions early on. But Brad eventually caught up with Watson, ending the round tied at $5,000. Jennings lagged behind with only $2,000. While Watson made a couple of mildly embarrassing errors, there are still two more nights of play remaining to show us lowly humans that any setbacks are merely minor bumps in the road towards world domination.

Watching a supercomputer take on humans on their own turf raises some interesting questions. Most glaringly, is it even fun to watch a lightning-quick machine pounce on questions (er, answers) before its human opponents can even process a clue? Blake Eskin at the New Yorker and a few others don't seem to think so. They all concede that the match is tense, but the competition lacks fun.

Continue reading Watson Holds His Own on 'Jeopardy,' Fails to Entertain

SwitchedWatson Holds His Own on 'Jeopardy,' Fails to Entertain originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad rutterBradRutteribmjeopardyken jenningsKenJenningsmediatoptvwatsonTue, 15 Feb 2011 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[FyreTV: A Streaming Pornucopia, For a Lonely Valentine's Night In]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/fyretv-fyreboxxx-streaming-pornucopia-lonely-valentines-night/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/fyretv-fyreboxxx-streaming-pornucopia-lonely-valentines-night/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/fyretv-fyreboxxx-streaming-pornucopia-lonely-valentines-night/#commentsfyretv screenshot There's another streaming media box on the market, but you won't be able to find the 'Scooby-Doo' movie on it. Oh, wait -- yes, you can. That is, if you're looking for the version that features Shaggy and Fred double-teaming Velma inside Old Man Withers' haunted dildo factory. Those meddling kids!

But seriously, the FyreTV streaming porno box (NSFW link, obviously) is perhaps the best gift that a lonely and hormonal geek could give to himself this Valentine's Day. It's also one of the most dangerous devices available for single and largely heterosexual men, because it will probably cause them to sprout hair on their palms, develop embarrassing welts, go blind, etc. There's no other device like this out there -- with the exception of your laptop, of course. But that raises the question: Why would anyone buy a porn-only box when they have the vast, sticky wilds of the Internet at hand? While some people think that paying for porn in this age is about as archaic as paying to see, you know, regular movies, there is a case to be made for a pornographic unitasker.

Continue reading FyreTV: A Streaming Pornucopia, For a Lonely Valentine's Night In

SwitchedFyreTV: A Streaming Pornucopia, For a Lonely Valentine's Night In originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appltvboxeefeaturesfyretvmedianetflixpornporno+valentines+daypornography for womenPornographyForWomenpornovalentinesdayreviewsrokusexstreamingstreaming media boxStreamingMediaBoxtopvalentines dayValentinesDayMon, 14 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[HP's 'Everybody On' Grammys Ad Appeals to Nobody]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/hps-everybody-on-grammys-ad-appeals-to-nobody/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/hps-everybody-on-grammys-ad-appeals-to-nobody/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/hps-everybody-on-grammys-ad-appeals-to-nobody/#comments
During last night's Grammys broadcast, HP ran a comprehensively awful commercial for its TouchPad, combining a track from Lou Reed with a script straight from 'Everyone Poops.'

The idea behind the ad is simple: with the TouchPad, you can do a lot of different things. It's a message that the company probably could've portrayed in a million ways. For some reason, though, HP decided to build the spot around a classic song about heroin and crossdressing. Scored to the familiar bassline of 'Walk on the Wild Side,' the ad features a montage of people using the TouchPad in various ways, while a voice belonging to neither Lou Reed nor Q-Tip describes what "everybody" is doing: "Everybody Skype, everybody post," everybody this, everybody that. It's painful, it's awkward, it's not self-aware in the slightest, and, not surprisingly, "everybody" hates it.

SwitchedHP's 'Everybody On' Grammys Ad Appeals to Nobody originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbadcommercialEverybodyOngrammyshphp touchpadhp+everybody+onhpeverybodyonHpTouchpadlou reedLouReedmediatabletpcstopTouchPadMon, 14 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sports Illustrated Announces Digital Subscriptions For Android, Web]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/11/sports-illustrated-announces-digital-subscriptions-for-android/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/11/sports-illustrated-announces-digital-subscriptions-for-android/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/11/sports-illustrated-announces-digital-subscriptions-for-android/#commentsTime Inc. announced today that, starting Friday, it will begin selling digital subscriptions to Sports Illustrated, both for Android-powered smartphones and tablets, and on the Web. An annual subscription to print and digital versions of the magazine will cost $48 per year, and a monthly subscription to the weekly magazine can be purchased for $4.99 (the same price as just one issue of the iPad edition of SI). Those who want an annual, digital-only subscription are out of luck for now, since Time will offer digital-only subscriptions at monthly rates rather than annual. If you're already an SI subscriber, you'll have immediate access to the digital version of the magazine for the remainder of your subscription. From there, it will be up you to choose which option suits you best.

For readers, this deal mostly means you can access the world's most popular sports magazine on-the-go (as long as you have an Android device or a laptop handy) instead of toting a paper copy with you. The story is really bigger news for publishers, who have dreamed about offering digital subscriptions of magazines since the iPad debuted, but haven't been able to hammer out the terms with Apple. If SI's digital subscription model proves profitable, Time intends to offer similar packages for subscribers to its other magazines. With Google's foot planted in the door, Apple might be left outside when it inevitably comes knocking for a subscription deal with Time.

SwitchedSports Illustrated Announces Digital Subscriptions For Android, Web originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidmediasports illustratedSportsIllustratedsubscriptionstimetopFri, 11 Feb 2011 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Groupon Pulls Controversial Ads, Apologizes for Offending Viewers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/11/groupon-pulls-controversial-ads-apologizes-for-offending-viewer/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/11/groupon-pulls-controversial-ads-apologizes-for-offending-viewer/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/11/groupon-pulls-controversial-ads-apologizes-for-offending-viewer/#commentstibet groupon ad Groupon has pulled a series of commercials that debuted during the Super Bowl, acknowledging that the controversial ad campaign "offended a lot of people."

In a post on the company's blog, Groupon founder Andrew Mason announced that some of the satirical spots would still air today, but confirmed that the campaign would end thereafter. "We hate that we offended people, and we're very sorry that we did -- it's the last thing we wanted," Mason wrote. "We've listened to your feedback, and since we don't see the point in continuing to anger people, we're pulling the ads."

Continue reading Groupon Pulls Controversial Ads, Apologizes for Offending Viewers

SwitchedGroupon Pulls Controversial Ads, Apologizes for Offending Viewers originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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