Last night the British news wire Sky News announced that Yoko Ono said the Beatles catalog would soon be available on iTunes. Soon after the post appeared on the news company's site, it was removed. While the news was most certainly printed without actual knowledge of the negotiations between Apple and EMI, the fact that Sky News, and others, including Google and MSNBC, picked up on the story is an unfortunate display of the current state of news media.
Netbook innovator Asus is developing an e-reader to compete with Amazon and Sony. The company, which perfected the now popular netbook, is set to make its version of the e-reader available for as little as $164, a signicantly cheaper product than its competitors market. While Asus may not have the name brand status or the e-reader experience of its competition, low prices may prove an advantage in earning a large chunk of the growing market.
Microsoft is attacking Google over the company's recent book settlement. Microsoft called Google's legal victory "an unprecedented misuse of the judicial system." The public condemnation comes as both the French, German and United States governments begin to investigate a deal that will effect the publishing industry globally.
Disney Interactive has acquired video game developer Wideload Games. Disney hopes the studio, launched by Bungie Software founder Alexander Seropian, will be as successful as Bungie's wildly popular Halo series. Disney noted that Wideload is putting the finishing touches on a gaming console aimed at families.
In an effort to increase efficiency, News Corp plans on establishing a network to access its content worldwide. Dubbed NewsCore, the network would distribute feeds, video and stories across a network, able to be accessed by any News Corp affiliated outlet. While a start date has yet to be announced, News Corp hopes the new service will cut down on production costs, while giving all News Corp outlets access to its premier content, including the Wall Street Journal.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV. Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net For information about Get Digital Classes, visit www.shellypalmer.com/seminars