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New Media News Every Morning

RealNetworks introduces new RealPlayer

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RealNetworks unveiled the new RealPlayer, the first media player to make it one-click simple to download online videos from thousands of web sites. The new RealPlayer makes it easy for consumers to watch videos whenever and wherever they want, burn them to DVD and CD, and share video links with friends. Most major formats are supported, including Real, Windows Media, Flash, and Quicktime. The new RealPlayer will be available for free beginning next month at RealPlayer.com.

“The new RealPlayer gives consumers more control of Internet video than was ever possible before,” said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of Real. “By floating a “download this video” button next to video seen on thousands of web sites, RealPlayer makes it one-click simple. The new RealPlayer is a major step towards realizing our vision of bringing great digital entertainment to more people on more screens around the world.”

Originally posted on May 31, 2007 @ 6:31 pm

Advertising.com reaches 88% of U.S. online consumers –comScore

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Advertising.com Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, announced that comScore Media Metrix has ranked the company’s display advertising network as the number one source of online consumer reach for the 36th consecutive month.

In April 2007, ads served across the Advertising.com display network reached 88% of U.S. online consumers or 156,037,000 unique visitors. This reach surpasses all other entities measured by comScore Media Metrix, including those within its top property, ad-supported property and ad network rankings.

“Advertising.com has long been the network leader in display advertising, as evidenced not only by our reach but also by our continued growth and success,” said Lynda Clarizio, president of Advertising.com. “With the recent acquisition of Third Screen Media, and, in 2006, Lightningcast, our reach has grown even further to include mobile and video platforms. Whatever device, format or solution is next, look to Advertising.com to lead the way.”

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Originally posted on June 1, 2007 @ 3:34 am

Online/Offline social network MingleNow launches in LA

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minglenow.jpgMingleNow, the online/offline social network that connects users to their favorite nightspots and the people who go there, is making its presence felt in Los Angeles with a launch set on May 31.

MingleNow is designed to connect people with their favorite places and friends and events before they go out, while they’re out and after they return home. MingleNow launched on the West Coast in December 2006 and has rapidly built a presence in markets across the country. Due to its hot nightlife scene, Los Angeles is a perfect place to continue that expansion and build a user base.

“In its first five months, MingleNow has grown to nearly a million users per month and become the fastest growing niche social network,” said Gurbaksh Chahal, CEO of MingleNow. “MingleNow lets people get the vibe of a club before they go there. It’s perfect for a geographically spread out market like LA, where you don’t want to drive 20 miles to a club just to be disappointed.”

Originally posted on May 30, 2007 @ 9:00 am

PayPlay.FM starts selling 1,300,000 tracks of DRM-free music

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payplay.jpgPayPlay.FM today started selling its 1,300,000-track catalog in unprotected MP3 format at the price of 88 cents per song. The move continues PayPlay’s strategy for uniform support of Mac and UNIX platforms, iPod, Zune and other portable players incompatible with Windows Media DRM, offering customers the ultimate in flexibility.

“On the Day Against DRM last year we committed to provide our customers with the music download freedom of choice. Today we live up to that promise, delivering more than twice the number of tracks pledged in October in DRM-free format,” said Elliot Goykhman, PayPlay CEO. “The new version of PayPlay.FM makes it extremely easy and exciting to buy music. We are proud to be the world’s largest MP3 download store.”

Originally posted on May 29, 2007 @ 5:07 pm

Warner Music putting video archives online for free

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warner.jpgWarner is planning to make its vast archive of videos available for free online after signing a deal with Premium TV, the group behind premier league football websites. The online TV company will create a series of online video sites organized by artist, genre, and label.

Users will be able to log their favourite music and artists and stream video for free from Warner’s catalogue, which includes footage of the Doors, Led Zeppelin and REM as well as newer artists like Hard-Fi. The sites, which are still in development, will also offer previously unseen footage. from Warner artists which include Led Zeppelin, REM, Madonna, among others.

The US giant says the deal will make it the first of the world’s four major music companies to supply its whole video archive online under a new business model that raises money through online advertising.

Originally posted on May 31, 2007 @ 5:06 am