And it Begins… Comcast and Netflix Strike Deal for Faster Streaming

For Netflix users, you would think this would be a good thing. Comcast and Netflix have struck a deal that will allow faster streaming streams of Netflix content through the Broadband giant. Neither would discuss the details of the deal, however, money was definitely involved. This is great for us streamers right? Well, you would think.

However, it’s just the beginning of losing the neutrality that we have been fighting for.

You see, deals are normally struck between service providers to allow better service for all but normally, free. What this does is open the door for similar deals to be had between ISPs and other service providers and, say, websites to make streaming/surfing to their site faster while leaving the smaller, less wealthy sites with poor service.

The companies both emphasized that Netflix will not receive special treatment. Of course they did. However, how can they offer better and faster service to the streaming giant without special treatment? According to Mashable: “The difference between a network-connection arrangement and preferential network treatment is technical but important, particularly within the topic of net neutrality. The deal struck by Netflix and Comcast has to do with a process called “peering,” in which companies physically connect networks together to exchange data. This is distinct from the net-neutrality issue of simply favoring or throttling certain content in an attempt to solicit payment. The difference means Netflix and Comcast can claim to be abiding by net-neutrality rules (or, for right now, conventions) while still creating a system in which content providers pay for better speed.”

So yes, it’s a great thing for Netflix watchers, but in the future can prove to be a really bad thing for the internet and start-ups who don’t have the money to gain that extra “oomph” needed for their viewers.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Social Media Mourns Two of it’s Beloved Stars, Maddie Tippett and Nick Spears

Social Media took two big hits in the last few days. First, the news of Maddie Tippett, the 3 year old YouTube sensation who passed away from complications of a common children’s infection and then Nick Spears, a popular Vine Comedian who passed at 35 from heart complications.

maddie-tippettMaddie Tippett from Newcastle Australia first went viral when she was only a toddler when her dad uploaded a video meant for the grandparents, trying to trick her into saying her favorite parent was not her mum. The cheeky cutie was on to him however, and would not give him what he wanted, until the end of course, where she said “dad” but then took it back saying “just kidding.” The internet took notice and 9.5 million views later, she was a star.

According to her mother, Maddie displayed some cold like symptoms and took her to the Dr. The Doctor told them it was just a virus and sent them home. Things worsened overnight however and the parents rushed her to the hospital where they found two viruses that had started to attack her heart. It was too much for her and she passed not long later.

The Tippett family have been inundated with messages of support and online tributes since the tragedy – not only from family and friends but from strangers overseas who were touched after hearing about their story. She lives on in her beautiful videos like the one that started it all below. We would like to send our condolences to her family as well.

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nick_spearsOn the heels of the news of Maddie came the news of Nick Spears, the Vine Comedian who passed away of heart complication at the young age of 35. Spears was beloved in the social-media community, particularly by a tight-knit group of comedians and friends on the Vine platform.

In addition to his social-media and standup comedy, the Los Angeles, Calif. resident was an active volunteer for F*ck Cancer, a non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness, and end cancer through early medical detection.

With 113,000 Vine followers at the time of his death, Spears rose to fame on Vine with his feel-good jokes and character driven comedy.

Spears had developed close relationships within the Vine community, especially with fellow comedians. He will most certainly be missed by all of us.

Here is just a peek at some of Nick’s Vines:

Around The Web: Ancient Chinese Instrument Sounds Exactly Like Super Mario Bros.

Prepare to be amazed. The young woman in the video below is playing her sheng, an ancient centuries old Chinese instrument, to the nostalgic tune of the Super Mario Bros theme. The woodwind instrument not only allows her to hit the theme perfectly, but it also lets her add in unique sound effects of collecting coins! Watch below and share with us what you think! Guarantee you’ll watch this more than once! This video is sure to go viral!

http://youtu.be/qM9hH3suOpo?t=20s

Lawsuit Filed Says Sony Music Cheated American Idol Winners Including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed in New York charges that Sony Music Entertainment cheated “American Idol” contestants including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood out of at least $10 million in royalties.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday by 19 Recordings, a music company founded by “Idol” creator Simon Fuller.

The lawsuit says 19 discovered the royalty issue from two separate audits of Sony’s records.

Other artists named in the suit include Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and Jordin Sparks.

Attorney Richard Busch, of the Nashville firm King & Ballow, says the legal action was necessary to protect the rights of 19’s artists.

A Sony spokeswoman said she had no comment on the lawsuit.

E-mail Tracking without your Knowledge. Creepy?

No, this isn’t about the NSA reading your boring e-mails about what you’re doing Friday Night or the latest video you think might go viral. This is about your friends (or maybe not) not only getting to see if you read their mail, but knowing who opened it and precisely where you opened it, without permission from you.

Sound a bit creepy? Yes, to us too.

A Google Chrome extension for G-Mail (also available for Safari) does just that. Enter Streak. You install the extension in your browser, give it access to your g-mail and that’s it. It’s currently free to use while it’s in Beta and as they continue to work on it, and your recipient doesn’t have to have it installed on the other end. Once installed, all of your outgoing mail will then provide you with read receipts, maps etc.

From what I can gather so far, there is no real way to block this as the recipient or get knowledge that it’s there, so far that is. Some say blocking images in your mail may do it, others say an AdBlock extension for Chrome, blocking Streak itself may do it. In the meantime, most are complaining to Google about it being a privacy issue. So far, Google has not responded as Streak is a third party extension, not one of their own. Information gathered from the internets say they believe the way your information gets tracked is by images attached to the e-mails sent. Small blank images that are able to show where it’s loaded and by whom. This then is sent back to the sender, with a who and where, including a pinned map of your location.

“Read Receipt” has been around for a long, long time of course, your boss wanting to know whether you read his e-mail etc. The difference here seems to be the recipient having no knowledge first, not being able to make a choice whether to read the e-mail or not, AND the map. The map itself is a potential stalkers dream come true.

There are more extensions out there just like this, but this one, being free, seems to be gaining some attention.

Here is a video of the extension in action brought to you by Mashable.

Wolf Problem in Sochi?

Is there a wolf problem in Sochi? Well, no, there isn’t. It was a prank that pretty much every News Channel picked up and ran with. Watch the video below to see this “story” in action.

Jimmy Kimmel, along with co-conspirator Kate Hansen from the U.S. Olympic Luge Team uploaded this video on her Twitter account to see if the media would run with the story, and they did.

Does anyone else find it disturbing that our News Media doesn’t need to verify stories anymore and just runs with them? By the way, when I went to search for a picture for this article (Google: Wolf Sochi) every media outlet in the nation pretty much has this up with “Wolf Roaming the Halls in Sochi!” Funny, but kinda sad actually.

Pushing Daisies to Make a Comeback?

Were you a fan of Pushing Daisies, the 2007 ABC series that was canceled prematurely in part due to the 2007-2008 writers strike? If so, there may be some hope to rejoice.

Creator of Pushing Daisies Bryan Fuller announced that he is hoping to bring the entire cast back together for a couple of projects. Fuller states in his interview, “I’ve had conversations very recently with Barry Sonnenfeld about financing a film, and with Kristin Chenoweth and Warner Brothers about developing a stage musical.” In addition, he also spoke of a Pushing Daisies return of sorts, “We’re working on something that is definitely a Pushing Daisies revival, and the idea would be to have as many cast as we can to participate in it.”

Pushing Daisies only lasted two seasons before it’s early cancellation by ABC, but managed to be nominated for 17 Emmy Awards (winning seven) before it’s ultimate demise.

I was a fan of the series and hated how early it was cancelled. Rather than a return to TV or a film, I myself am hoping for maybe a Netflix series, not unlike what was done with Arrested Development. This would definitely allow more creative license and of course binge watching at it’s best.