p2pnet World Headlines: March 10, 2010: 1
Voddler signs deal with Warner Bros. The Local
Swedish internet movie service Voddler has signed a contract with the US film giant Warner Bros. Entertainment. The deal covers film material from Warner Bros and New Line Cinema. “We are happy that another Hollywood major has chosen to distribute its films via Voddler. Our ambition is an in-depth cooperation with all the leading film companies to offer a broad selection of movies,” said Zoran Slavic, Voddler executive vice-president, in a statement on Wednesday.
New report shows how much record companies are “investing in music” IFPI
Record companies, large and small, invest around US$5 billion a year in music talent, support a global roster of thousands of artists and typically spend US$1 million to break successful pop acts in major markets. The figures are published in a new report issued today highlighting the work of major and independent record companies as the principal investors in artists’ careers. Advances, recording, marketing and promotional costs are the biggest items of record company spending on artists, commonly totalling six figure sums. [The quotes around "investing in music" are the IFPI's, not ours 
]
Mobile that allows bosses to snoop on staff developed BBC
Researchers have produced a mobile phone that could be a boon for prying bosses wanting to keep tabs on the movements of their staff. Japanese phone giant KDDI Corporation has developed technology that tracks even the tiniest movement of the user and beams the information back to HQ. It works by analysing the movement of accelerometers, found in many handsets. Activities such as walking, climbing stairs or even cleaning can be identified, the researchers say. The company plans to sell the service to clients such as managers, foremen and employment agencies.
European Parliament Debates Anti-ACTA Petition IDG News Service
European Parliamentarians are set to debate whether to formally oppose an anticounterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA) being negotiated in secret by the European Commission with trading partners including the U.S., Canada and Japan. However, civil liberties campaigners think the resolution is too weak and won’t have the desired effect.The evening debate Tuesday at a plenary session of the Parliament in Strasbourg will be followed by a vote around midday Wednesday.The resolution mainly attacks the lack of transparency in the ACTA negotiations. It calls on the Commission to grant both the Parliament and the public free access to the draft ACTA texts, and warns that failure to do so would result in legal action against the Commission to the European Court of Justice.
Why Computer Engineer Barbie Is Good for Women in Tech Mashable
Rebecca Zook is an online female math tutor who has been helping students get math into their brains for seven years. She blogs about learning at Triangle Suitcase. Over half a million votes were cast to decide Barbie’s newest career. But even though Computer Engineer Barbie was developed in consultation with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering, the new doll’s appearance has sparked controversy. While some have embraced coder Barbie, others have attacked the concept, saying that her pink laptop, sparkly leggings, and trendy glasses are “too feminine” to be realistic. The critics imply that real coders aren’t feminine, and feminine coders aren’t real. But women shouldn’t feel like they have to stop being feminine to work in technology. [Also see Barbie the Computer Geek ]
Leaked Dell Streak flyer shows multitude of color options, confirmed specifications Engadget
There’s no denying that the Mini 5 is real, but up until now, we’ve had to provide all of our own promotional material. At long last, it seems as if the suits in Round Rock are finally getting around to crafting the first advertisements for the upcoming slate, and while we knew about the 5-inch WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, capacitive touch front buttons, front-facing VGA camera (for video chatting) and the 30-pin docking connector, we weren’t aware of Dell’s plans to reveal a slew of vivacious color options. If this here flyer proves legitimate, we could eventually see the Mini 5 available in an array of premium finishes and hues (thanks, Design Studio!), and we’re hoping for a few different spec builds as well.
..… and identi.ca
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
March, 2010
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March 10th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
“Record companies, large and small, invest around US$5 billion a year in music talent, support a global roster of thousands of artists and typically spend US$1 million to break successful pop acts in major markets.”
And health and education are a major part of the budget pie of the Government of Quebec.
Quebec money use for health and education are not efficient, and neither are record companies’ “investments” (how much are for “fruit and flowers”, by the way?)
What is common between record companies (big, not small) and the governments? Their inefficiencies are bailed out by people either through raising taxes, or extorting money by threatening people with lawsuits.
March 10th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
link regarding “fruit and flowers”:
http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/1/emis-400000-coke-and-hookers-budget