The touchscreen tech used in
Download Only Song to Crack the Top 40: (via Slashdot)
"nagora writes 'The BBC is reporting that next week's UK music chart may have the first sign of the end of the recording industry as we know it. From this week (7th Jan, 2006), all downloaded music sales are counted in the official UK chart, not just tracks which have had a physical media release. Now, an unsigned band called Koopa is poised to enter the top 40 without any old-world recording, distribution, or production deals. Band member Joe Murphy says 'If someone comes along and gives us an offer, we'll talk to them.' before continuing on to add the words the recording industry has been having nightmares about since the introduction of the mp3 format: 'If we can get enough exposure and get in the top 40 by the end of the week, do we necessarily need a large label? Probably nowadays, no you don't.' Is this finally the crack in the dam we've all been waiting for to wash away the entrenched monopolies of 20th century music production? Or just a sell-out waiting to happen?'
The touchscreen tech used in Apple's (I want one) sexy new iPhone was debuted and discussed at the TED, a nerd conference held last year. Here's a really cool video of that demonstration.
Oh by the way, Cisco is 'suing' Apple for their unlicensed (yet) use of its trademark name iPhone. Media hype of the first order. This is theatre meant to ensure the words "Apple" and "iPhone" stay on the front page of the business section (where Blackberry users will see it) for the entire length of the CES, stealing headline space from Microsoft's limp debut of their Vista Windows upgrade.
Peter David has an amusing account of his play-by-play of U.S. President Bush's "surge speech" last night.
Google Earth 4 has been released and hey, Toronto's actually got some 3D buildings in it now!
"At least he said "nuclear" correctly."