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PassAlong Networks to offer compromise between DRM and raw MP3s

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passalong.jpgPassAlong Networks, developer of digital media innovations and services, announced plans to launch version 2.0 of freedomMP3â„¢, an interoperability platform that offers online music stores the opportunity to provide raw MP3 digital music files that contain security features which honor creator and consumer rights. MP3 files offer true interoperability to consumers because they play on nearly all digital music players including iPodsâ„¢ and cell phones. Now consumers can enjoy the benefits of raw MP3 files and labels can protect their artists’ content with reasonable usage rules.

By balancing what consumers want with what artists and labels need, the freedomMP3 platform offers a solution to the current digital rights management (DRM) dilemma plaguing the music industry. A beta version of freedomMP3 was released in 2006, and, based on feedback from music labels, PassAlong added new protection features to version 2.0. [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 8, 2007 @ 9:19 am

Pew Internet sorts out American technology users

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Fully 85% of American adults use the internet or cell phones – and most use both. Many also have broadband connections, digital cameras and video game systems. Yet the proportion of adults who exploit the connectivity, the capacity for self expression, and the interactivity of modern information technology is a modest 8%.

Fully half of adults have a more distant or non-existent relationship to modern information technology. Some of this diffidence is driven by people’s concerns about information overload; some is related to people’s sense that their gadgets have more capacity than users can master; some is connected to people’s sense that things like blogging and creating home-brew videos for YouTube is not for them; and some is rooted in people’s inability to afford or their unwillingness to buy the gear that would bring them into the digital age.

These findings come from the Pew Internet Project’s typology of information and communication technology (ICT) users. The typology categorizes Americans based on the amount of ICTs they possess, how they use them, and their attitudes about the role of ICTs are in their lives. Ten separate groups emerge in the typology. [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 7, 2007 @ 7:08 am

Webby In-Motion Contest announced

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adobewebby.jpgThe Webby Awards announced the launch of “Webby In-Motion,” a contest, sponsored by Adobe Systems, that challenges Adobe users to take “creative license” in designing motion graphics for this year’s Webby Awards ceremony.

The Webby In-Motion contest gives anyone equipped with Adobe software and a creative vision the opportunity to produce the twenty second videos, or interstitials that will be used to introduce key categories throughout The 11th Webby Awards ceremony.

One winning video will be selected for each of the ten topic clusters, under which the 100 Webby Awards are divided. Of these ten finalists, a grand prize winner will be selected and awarded with the special honor of attending the awards gala event in New York City on June 5, 2007. Also included will be airfare and accommodations for two, plus a copy of the new Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software, combining the best professional creative tools from Adobe with exceptional integration and productivity.

Originally posted on May 4, 2007 @ 10:10 am

Filed Under: Web

PR Newswire offers comprehensive blog measurement tool

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mediasense.jpgPR Newswire announced a partnership with Umbria, a market intelligence company that specializes in blog research and consumer generated media (CGM) for market insight, to provide clients with a comprehensive blog measurement tool that allows them to assess the impact of online consumer conversations about their company, products and brands.

PR Newswire’s MediaSense Blog Measurement, as the service is called, uses Umbria’s proprietary technology, and allows PR Newswire clients to track blog conversations around a press release or a news topic, and monitor how these conversations grow and wane. Umbria’s patent-pending technology is unique in how it analyzes blogosphere discussions and provides a graphical assessment of the conversation tone and participant demographics.

“The advent of citizen-generated media has both delighted and confounded public relations professionals,” said Dave Armon, chief operating officer, PR Newswire. “As the leading communications service provider for corporate, government and public policy PR officers, PR Newswire views bloggers and their readers as additional key audiences, and this new tool provides our customers with actionable feedback on how their messages are resonating with audiences in the blogosphere, which is 75 million blogs strong and growing.”

Originally posted on May 3, 2007 @ 11:56 am