After thousands of users lost contacts and personal data, T-Mobile says that much of the information lost may be able to be retrieved. The company know believes data may be able to be recovered. In adittion, T-Mobile is offering Sidekick users who lost a lot of information a $100 credit with the mobile provider. While the news is positive for Sidekick users, it does not bode well for Microsoft, who is desperately trying to make a significant dent in the wireless communications world.
In an instance of branding gone bad, Pepsi launched the "Amp Up Before You Score" iPhone application to promote the AMP energy drink. The app is designed to help young men with their "game" and features digital flash cards of female characters like "the treehugger," "the cougar," and "the sorority girl," for which pick-up lines are given. The app also boasts a "brag list," where users can boast about who they "scored" with. Needless to say, this caused quite an outrage, especially with young women, and AMP, which is owned by Pepsi, has already issued an apology, albeit via Twitter. "Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go 2 pick up women. We apologize if its in bad taste & appreciate your feedback. #pepsifail"
Michael Jackson's first posthumous song "This Is It" has stirred up a bit of controversy as to who deserves writing credit. The song, which is audibly similar to a song Jackson and Paul Anka wrote for R&B singer Saffire in 1991, only listed Jackson as a writer. Anka, who had not been notified about the new song, told reporters that Jackson's camp "will be sued if they don't correct it." Quick to rectify the situation, Jackson's estate has since given Anka a co-writting credit.
Comcast and GE are getting closer to a deal for NBCU. Both companies have agreed to a timetable for GE's exit from the business. The NY Post is reporting the terms of the deal include an initial $9 Billion cash payment from Comcast.
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