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2012 : Perfect Disaster at Weekend Box Office with $65 Mil

11/16/2009 11:44:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , 0 Comments

The world may live to see 2013, after all.

The apocalyptic-minded 2012 started off with a $65 million box-office bang, per estimates, beating projections and the weekend competition.

Elsewhere, bigger wasn't always better—or bigger. In limited release, the potential Oscar heavyweight Precious continued to loom incredibly large ($6.1 million at only 174 theaters), while Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox enjoyed a fantastic debut ($260,000 at four theaters).

Taking a look inside the numbers:

• 2012's $65 million weekend isn't even half of what made its debut so huge. Overseas, the disaster epic made like Michael Jackson, and grossed $160 million—the fifth-biggest international opening ever. Add 'em together, and the $200 million behemoth has already covered its budget, and then some. Its estimated worldwide total as of today: $225 million.

• Hollywood hasn't had a $65-million opener since forever. Or, late May June, when Up Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen did the honors. (Sorry, That's the last time we go by our Mayan calendar.)

• 2012 is actually not Roland Emmerich's biggest ever. The last time the filmmaker ended the world, in 2004's The Day After Tomorrow, he got off to a $68.7 million start.

• In its second weekend, Jim Carrey's A Christmas Carol ($22.3 million) held very well, with ticket sales down only 26 percent from its debut. At the same time, the $180-$200 million extravaganza hasn't yet made as much in two weekends as 2012 did in one weekend ($63.2 million). Overseas business has been less than merry, too.

• How remarkable is Precious? The Oprah Winfrey- and Tyler Perry-endorsed drama played at 174 theaters. George Clooney's The Men Who Stare at Goats played at nearly 2,500. The two films ended up just about even.

• Michael Jackson's This Is It was supposed to be out of theaters by now. And while it's losing steam (and theaters), it picked up another $5.1 million, and hung around long enough to—finally—depose Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana vehicle, Best of Both Worlds, as the top-grossing concert film: $67.2 million (and counting) versus $65.3 million. Earlier in the week, the Jackson film topped $200 million worldwide, and now stands at $222.6 million overall.

• Hollywood's $100 million club has two new members: The $70 million Couples Retreat ($102.1 million); and, the $15,000 Paranormal Activity ($103.8 million).

• A tale of two hipster family films: Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are ($73.4 million overall) started big, but dropped out of the Top 10 after four weekends, and having failed to match its $100 million budget domestically; Wes Anderson's considerably cheaper Fantastic Mr. Fox started small, but with a blockbuster per-screen average (a weekend-best $65,000).

• Astro Boy ($1.7 million) zipped out of the Top 10 after only three weekends, and only $17.9 million overall.

• The rock-powered Pirate Radio ($2.9 million) was no Fantastic Mr. Fox or Precious, but it did almost make the Top 10, despite bowing at fewer than 1,000 theaters.

Here's a look at the weekend's top-grossing films based on Friday-Sunday estimates as compiled by Exhibitor Relations:

1. 2012, $65 million
2. Disney's A Christmas Carol, $22.3 million
3. The Men Who Stare at Goats, $6.2 million
4. Precious, $6.1 million
5. Michael Jackson's This Is It, $5.1 million
6. The Fourth Kind, $4.7 million
7. Couples Retreat, $4.3 million
8. Paranormal Activity, $4.2 million
9. Law Abiding Citizen, $3.9 million
10. The Box, $3.2 million

Is it OK to use OEM Windows on your own PC? Don't ask Microsoft

11/16/2009 11:43:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 1 Comment

If Microsoft expects its customers to take license agreements seriously, it has a responsibility to communicate the terms of those agreements to its customers clearly and unambiguously. As I noted earlier this month, Microsoft does a generally poor job of explaining its complicated rules for how Windows licensing works. But I deliberately left one type of Windows license off that list, because it deserves its own special place in the Corporate Communications Hall of Shame.

I’m talking about OEM System Builder licenses for Windows desktop editions. If you look at any online shopping site that caters to PC enthusiasts, you’ll find these copies displayed alongside the upgrade and full license packages that Microsoft says retail customers are supposed to buy. My friend and fellow Windows expert Paul Thurrott just posted a thorough look at the Windows 7 OEM System Builder package, complete with pictures. If you’re building your own PC or looking for installation media that won’t make you jump through hoops to install it, this product is extremely attractive, because it’s significantly less expensive than a full retail license. The installation media works almost exactly like a full retail copy of Windows, except that it can’t be used for upgrades.

Many readers tell me they bought that software and installed it on their own new (or old) PC, happily saving a significant chunk of change in the process. According to Microsoft, they are violating the terms of the OEM System Builder license agreement, which says, in convoluted language, that you must install the software using the OEM Preinstallation Kit and then resell the PC to a third party. If you install that software on your own PC, you don’t have a “genuine” copy of Windows.

But how are you supposed to know? Microsoft allows any online retailer to sell OEM System Builder software with no indication of its terms and conditions. A consumer is expected to read the license agreement printed in tiny type on the outside of the OEM System Builder software package and then translate its dense legalese into plain English (PDF here):



Once, not so long ago, Microsoft officially allowed hobbyists and Windows enthusiasts to use discounted OEM System Builder copies on new PCs built for personal use. Last year, in a post titled OEM licensing confusion starts at Microsoft.com, I posted pictures of official, Microsoft-produced documents that made this policy crystal-clear, in plain English. A document containing this graphic was available just last year, in fact:



But that document is now gone. In fact, over the past two years, someone at Microsoft has deliberately and methodically scrubbed all traces of those documents from the web. Only a few traces of that language have survived, as in this blog post from the Microsoft Small Business Community blog. They’ve been replaced with a single page at Microsoft’s OEM Partner Center, which tries to stomp out the idea that end users can purchase and use this software. The Licensing for Hobbyists page, written for Microsoft partners and not for consumers, includes this Q&A, which was written more than a year ago:

Q. What is Microsoft doing to clarify these terms to resellers and end-users?

A. In addition to announcing this clarification to the System Builder channel, Microsoft is working with online retailers to post language on their websites explaining the licensing rules for OEM System Builder channel software.

Whoever was in charge of that effort has some ’splainin’ to do, because no such language is available on any of the online retail sites I checked.

I used Microsoft’s own “decision engine” to shop for a single copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit edition. According to the Bing Shopping results, there are 21 online stores where you can buy this package, for prices ranging from $169.53 to $237.59. Bing’s Cashback program offers an additional rebate of as much as 7% on those prices.

And here’s the kicker: Those results show only OEM System Builder copies. When I tried to search for a fully licensed copy of Windows 7 Ultimate using Bing, I couldn’t find it anywhere. Using Bing, I found upgrades and OEM copies only, neither of which can be legally installed on a newly built homebrew PC. I had better luck searching at Google, where I finally found a listing of 138 sellers offering the full Windows 7 package for prices that start at $280.92.

Following the links from those Bing results led to pages at ZipZoomfly.com and CompUSA.com and TigerDirect and CompSource. None of those pages contained any licensing information (not even a link to the Microsoft OEM license) and none of them showed the actual product package. The listing page at Newegg.com does contain the following disclaimer: “Use of this OEM System Builder Channel software is subject to the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. This software is intended for pre-installation on a new personal computer for resale…” But there’s no way to actually read that license, and nothing discourages any consumer from buying it for personal use. That scenario was repeated on every site I visited.

If you’re confused by all this information (or lack thereof), you might do what several would-be buyers did and visit Microsoft’s Windows 7 forums, where you can get your questions answered by Microsoft support engineers and MVPs. These Microsoft Answers forums generally do a good job on technical questions. But there’s no guarantee you’ll get a consistent or accurate answer on licensing issues. The answer to this question, for example, seems to be 100% wrong:

Q: I have a small company and one of my clients has asked if I could upgrade several of their computers hardware and have inquired about me updating their computers to Windows 7.

In researching pricing for Windows 7 to give an estimate on cost for their requested computer work, I see that several places offer for purchase “OEM System Builder” software. The ‘OEM System Builder” is subject to “Microsoft OEM System Builder License” , can I purchase this OEM software or do I need to purchase the ‘full’ version?

A: Yes you can purchase the OEM version of Windows 7. The OEM versions of Windows have been available to the general public for many, many years and have worked without problems.

The main difference between OEM and Retail is that the OEM license does not allow moving the OS to a different computer, once it is installed.

Other than this, they are the same OS.

And here’s another Q&A, asked and answered two days after Windows 7 was released last month:

Q: I build my own computers–mainly so I’ll know what’s in them and dont have to fool with the manufacturers’ alleged “tech support” while I’m in warranty. At some point in the future I’ll probably want to build one with Windows 7–when I do, do I qualify to use the “OEM System Builders” version or do I have to buy a retail copy?

A: Yes, you can buy the “OEM System Builders” version of Windows 7. Many online stores sell it.

That response was marked as an official Answer by the moderator of the forum, a Microsoft MVP.

So, to recap: A PC hobbyist or enthusiast who wants to buy a legal copy of Windows 7 at a discount gets confusing and conflicting information from Microsoft’s web site. Microsoft’s own “decision engine” leads him to software he isn’t supposed to use, and even offers extra discounts if he buys through those links. He gets no information from online retailers who will happily take his money for a product he technically isn’t allowed to install. And he gets absolutely wrong answers if he asks at Microsoft’s official help forums.

Is that pathetic, or what?

A Microsoft spokesperson told me that the policy toward use of OEM software by home PC builders hasn’t changed, and that the documents I found and pointed readers to for years were “mistakes.” Sorry, that doesn’t cut it. When you publish information on your website, and when you create glossy handouts that you distribute to your partners for years, those represent your policy. You can’t suddenly change that policy by deleting copies of the old documents and pretending they never existed. That shows an appalling lack of transparency, not to mention a lack of respect for customers.

Normally, I’m a firm believer in following the letter and the spirit of software license agreements. In this case, though, given Microsoft’s complete breakdown in communicating with its customers, I’m willing to make a major exception. I have no problem enthusiastically recommending these discounted copies of Windows for anyone building a PC for their own personal use. And I think someone at Microsoft should step up and formally approve that exception. It’s the right thing to do.

Lindsay Lohan Has Alleged Meltdown... Over Paying For Drinks

11/16/2009 11:43:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Hide your valuables and lock up your liquor: Is that the warning that should herald a visit from Lindsay Lohan? Based on her reputation for having allegedly sticky fingers – with the latest claim from a bar that was nearly left holding the bill for bottles of bubbly – that may not be such a bad idea.

Lohan, 23, was partying at the Crown Bar in Los Angeles Nov. 6, and, according to one onlooker, caused quite a scene when asked to ante up for her drinks.

"Lindsay stormed into the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of really expensive champagne. She finished both bottles with a friend. When the bartender gave her a bill, she had a meltdown," says the source. "She was yelling at him and screaming profanities at everyone. The bar insisted she pay, so she had to call a friend with her credit-card information."

Before the actress left the club around 2:30 a.m., the onlooker says, "She was crying and wanted to go home. She kept saying 'I don't pay for drinks! This is ridiculous! I'm freaking out!' "

Past Incidents

This wasn't the first time Lindsay has been at the center of a sticky-fingers controversy. Some $40,000 worth of Dior baubles went missing from Lindsay's U.K. Elle cover shoot in July, though her mom, Dina Lohan, maintained her daughter's innocence, and Elle later stated the magazine staff "had no reason to believe that Lindsay Lohan was in any way responsible."

In May 2007, Lohan avoided felony grand theft charges when there was insufficient evidence to back a woman's claim that the star had stolen her clothing.

There was, however, no escaping eyewitness reports of Lohan "stealing" Paris Hilton's boyfriend in spring 2006. She and Stavros Niarchos were first spied together five days before he and Hilton broke up – hooking up at the Manhattan clubs Butter and Bungalow 8.

Minks and Marilyn

Drinks and dudes aren't the only magnets for Lohan. She has also been accused of lifting the formula for a fake tan spray, a stranger's mink coat and even looks for her photo shoots (take that Marilyn Monroe!).

Inevitably, what goes around comes around, and this year Lohan found herself a victim of a robbery in her Hollywood Hills home while she was in New York. "The safe was ripped out of the wall, and the door was off the hinges and door handles removed," her mom told PEOPLE in August. "Bags, shoes and jewelry were taken too. Thank God she wasn't home."

A group of mostly teenagers have been arrested as part of an alleged burglary ring that targeted the homes of Hollywood stars.

Avex Reports, "No change in Japan with TVXQ's activities"

11/16/2009 11:42:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

In Korea, the media reports their views that it will be difficult for the five members of TVXQ to perform together. They also reported that their future activities in Korea during the early part of 2010 are unclear.
Meanwhile, TVXQ's concert in China, which was supposed to take place on the 21st of November 2009, has been cancelled.

However, in Japan, it has been decided and reported that:
"TVXQ will release their new song, "BREAK OUT!" in the new year 2010."

And also:
"TVXQ's fan meeting performances have been confirmed." (In January 2010.)

Avex has reported that:
"There is no change in plan with TVXQ's activities in Japan."

Windows XP Users Are Slow to Move -- Survey

11/16/2009 11:41:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments

While Windows Vista users are switching to Windows 7 in droves, XP users remain holdouts.

Windows Vista users are flocking to Windows 7, but a considerable number of holdouts are resistant to upgrading from Windows XP, according to an InfoWorld survey that was taken over the past several weeks.

The survey found that Windows 7 now has approximately 4 percent market share among 20,000 systems that it monitors through the exo.performance.network. The network is administered by Devil Mountain Software, and tracks users who have chosen to opt in.

The new Windows 7 users don’t seem to be Windows XP defectors -- that OS’s share is holding steady at 64 percent. And almost three years after Windows Vista’s release, its market share has barely cracked 30 percent. InfoWorld noted that Windows Vista appears to be losing market share as Windows 7 increases in popularity. However, I’m hesitant to accept whether there is any actual correlation without having seen the data.

Another recent survey by NPD Group reaffirms Windows 7’s popularity over its oft-criticized predecessor. It found that Windows 7’s initial boxed upgrades were up 234 percent over Windows Vista.

Microsoft offered significant pre-sale discounts for Windows 7. There has also been pent up demand for upgrades, because many businesses eschewed Windows Vista.

Windows 7 had a long beta cycle, and has received generally good reviews. In fact, I have not heard any real horror stories since it launched last month. That could be in part because there is no direct upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7: XP users must perform a clean install to upgrade to Windows 7, and I suspect many still have machines that are too wimpy for Windows 7, and will therefore get the new OS only when they buy new PCs.

We’d like to hear from you. Are you planning on upgrading to Windows 7, or are you sticking with what you’ve got (or looking for an alternative such as a Mac or Linux machine)?

Chris Brown: People Are Perceiving Me Wrong

11/16/2009 11:41:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

As he continues to apologize publicly for beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna, Chris Brown says he doesn't know why people have a hard time believing that he is remorseful.

"The steps that I’ve taken to show that I’m sorry probably have been perceived wrong," Brown, 20, says in an interview on The Wendy Williams Show Friday (check your local listings)."Certain things when I’m doing certain interviews and how my posture is to how I’m acting.

"At the end of the day, I’m definitely remorseful and it’s not something that I take lightly or think that it’s like under the rug," he goes on. "I really think it’s something that is a serious matter and I’m learning from it."

The New York Post reports that Brown still can't live down the attack.

The paper posts a video of a woman getting within a few feet of him Wednesday in NYC and screaming: "[bleep]ing beater!" and "I hope someone beats the [bleep]ing [bleep] out of you!"

Brown just smiles and walks past her.

Lee Seung Gi makes a full recovery from swine flu

11/16/2009 11:40:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Having been hit by the swine flu which prompted a cancellation of his concert with Son Dambi in America, it was announced on the 15th that Lee Seung Gi has recovered fully from his illness after taking Tamiflu and will resume his schedule from this week.

Lee Seung Gi will record Strong Heart on the 19th, followed by 1N2D on the 20th. He also expressed his thanks to his fans through his management for their care and concern and will repay them with better performances in future.

Besides his tv schedules, Lee Seung Gi will also start preparations for his year-end solo concerts which will be held on 12th and 13th December at the Seoul Olympic Stadium.

Xperia X10 launching February 2010 in UK, says Sony Ericsson site

11/16/2009 11:40:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments



Sony Ericsson UK's got a new pre-registration page for the Xperia X10, and along with it what appears to be a brand new, February 2010 expected launch. It's hard to say for sure, but as far as we can tell this page is new, and last we heard the target window was a much broader "first half 2010." Can't say we're anymore excited about this than before, but far be it for us to get in the way of a truly die hard fan community. At least you have a better idea of when to break the bank now.

Fifties glamour returns as Scarlett Johansson smoulders in new ad campaign

11/16/2009 11:39:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

How much do we love the new Dolce & Gabbana ad campaign featuring Scarlett Johansson?

She smoulders in front of the camera, all bust and hips and pale flesh, looking unapologetically curvy - and boy, does she look sexy.


This return to form marks the start of a backlash against the waif-like models who are used in most fashion campaigns and harks back to an era when women looked glamorous when they went to the shops.

The style is nostalgic, but Johansson makes it look modern. We've become so used to androgynous looking bodies that her curves - and that waist - look truly striking and womanly.

It's not just her natural, healthy figure that's so refreshing; we're swooning over the loose, side-swept blonde bun, grey eyes and nude, pouting lips.

Recreate the understated sexy look in a slip from M&S, Wolford or Spanx.



On the eyes, opt for a dove grey eye shadow with charcoal colour along the eye-line and lashings of black mascara, keep your skin porcelain and add a pale shade on your lips.

When it comes to the hair, brush it into a loose side ponytail and twist into a bun.

And for those sexy curves? Just pass the cupcakes...


[Shall We State the Case] Rational and Emotional Love Story

11/16/2009 11:39:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

In the new series, “Shall We State the Case”, Tavia Yeung plays a police. She stated that she felt really heroic when she was in the police uniform. She said: “When I was wearing the uniform, I needed to lift up my chest and hold my waist in. I needed to be fit in order to look good. I felt really mighty and brave.” And in the series, she has a love story with Raymond Lam, but she laughed and said she isn’t afraid that rumors would spread about them two.

Kenneth Ma is playing a playboy cop and has a lot of girlfriends in the series, including guest star model Lisa S. He also has a lot of kissing scenes with Bernice Liu. Kenneth said: “This is this year’s best role. I brought my toothbrush, toothpaste and gum to work everyday so that it’ll be convient for kissing scenes.

Series features:
Everything is rational and logical, but love is different! A professor and police woman start a love story that is both rational and emotional. To make it even more interesting, there will be cases in the series that will be solved using physics. It is a must watch series.

Series Synopsis:
Ging Bok (Raymond Lam) is said to be the youngest and talented physicist. He returned to Hong Kong and became university professor. His good friend, Lo Tin Hang (Kenneth Ma) asked him to help the police solve cases using physics. He successfully helps them, and meets CID officer, Tsui Siu Lai (Tavia Yeung). Ging Bok comes from a rich family, is rational and logical; Siu Lai lives a middle class life, is emotinal and uses her intuition. Two people from different world fall in love with each other, they must go through testing…

On the other hand, playboy Tin Hang and his old classmate, Ling Man Ka (Bernice Liu) have been keeping an innocent relationship with each other. Later, Ling Man Ka found out that she’s in love with Tin Hang. But since she knows they don’t have an ending together, she leaves Hong Kong. One day, Tin Hang met Man Ka again. He found out that she will be marrying her boyfriend. Tin Hang then realizes that he does not want to lose Man Ka…

Captions:
-Kenneth Ma and Tavia Yeung will work together to solve cases.
-In reality, Tavia’s mom always wanted her to be a police. Now her wish has come true.
-Tavia Yeung and Raymond Lam will be dating in the series, all with the help of Jazz Lam.
-Raymond Lam will be playing a physicist and will have to remember a lot of hard lines.

Entelligence: Got game?

11/16/2009 11:38:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.



There was a lot of buzz last week when Apple announced that there now more than 100,000 applications in iPhone App Store, and more than two billion apps downloaded. Those are impressive numbers. A former Palm executive recently told me that in the heyday of Palm OS, two thirds of users never installed a third party app and the average "power user" installed around ten. That averages out to about two apps per device -- a pretty low number compared to most iPhone users, even novice users.

But that's only part of the story. A few months ago, I discussed the viability of multiple mobile OS platforms and how it's not likely that they all will survive long term, and one big reason Apple's platform looks better and better is entertainment apps. Looking at my own device, once you get past the three core apps I use all the time (Mail, Tweetie, and Byline, a Google Reader app), the bulk of my hundred plus apps are all entertainment related -- and most of them aren't available on any other platform.

When you look at the out-of-the-box experience of most smartphones today, they're all pretty good when it comes to basics. Email, web browsing, personal information management, and voice are all acceptable. What's missing are the applications and experience that make up mobile entertainment. Media and content consumption are one core pillar. Games are another.

Media is important to mobility, and according to our research, the iPhone leads the competition by wide margin when it comes to consumers who purchase phones looking to listen to music and watch video. This makes sense, as the most popular media player on the market is the iPod and the iPhone is the only phone with the iPod experience built in. That means users can sync all their content seamlessly, and sync is important. I personally have no desire to troll through thousands of songs trying to re-create my playlists using drag and drop. Other platforms pale by comparison, with Android lagging behind most notably -- Google's OS has no native media sync support at all. Platform providers who aren't thinking of media and content sync are going to miss the boat. (Microsoft, I'm talking to you -- just where is that Zune client for Windows Mobile?)

Of course it's more than just sync. Want to watch a Slingbox remotely? Control your Sonos? Listen to your Rhapsody subscription wherever you are? How about turning your device into a Kindle or a Nook ebook reader? There's only one platform now that let's you do all of those things, and that's the iPhone.

Games are the second pillar of entertainment and Apple's been successful in making the iPhone / iPod Touch a real gaming platform. The iPhone now boasts the best collection of games for any mobile platform, and game developer after developer tells me that they're not even looking at most other platforms -- or they're porting one or two titles to dip their toe in the water. Part of it is platform capability -- the Blackberry simply can't deliver the same type of gaming experience as the iPhone -- but in other cases it's about market penetration or platform fragmentation. Several developers tell me they're avoiding Android because the platform is too fragmented to make the investment: there are different versions of the OS being sold, on hardware with different screen sizes and resolutions. Games are going to critical to any platform's success and the ability to sign up first rate developers and get exclusive content is going to be key to long-term survival.

100,000 apps is impressive but it's not the number that matters -- it's the depth and quality of those applications and the ability for consumers to use their devices for play as well as for work. If platform providers don't start focusing on high quality entertainment experiences soon, we may see some platforms fading even sooner than I might have thought.

Kings of Leon Drummer Marries

11/16/2009 11:38:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

With years of sweet music together ahead of them, Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill married singer Jessie Baylin in an outdoor ceremony in Brentwood, Tenn., Saturday.

"I woke up with a married woman in my bed this morning," Followill, 30, Tweeted on Sunday morning. "Luckily she was mine."

The ceremony took place at Brentwood's Wolf Den Farm at 5 p.m., with dinner (catered by Nashville restaurant Miel) and dancing following in a barn on the property, the band's spokesman tells PEOPLE. The couple's first dance was to an instrumental Hawaiian lap steel guitar tune.

"It was a gorgeous 70 degree day and the wedding was beautiful," the spokesman says. "It was a very love-affirming wedding with lots of warmth and happiness."

Guests included Followill's Kings of Leon bandmates Caleb and Jared Followill (his brothers) and Matthew Followill (his cousin), as well as Scarlett Johansson, who went to high school with the bride, and country singer Billy Currington.

After the wedding, Followill, who met Baylin, 25, a singer/songwriter signed to Verve Records, at Bonnaroo in 2006, Tweeted a picture of his gold wedding band. Appropriate since the night before, he sent out this message:

"This time tomorrow night I will be wearing some new jewelry. I'm so excited for tomorrow. A new day, a new life, and a new wife. Thanks Jess."

Netizens attack Kevin's solo appearance in 'Forensic Heroes III'

11/16/2009 11:36:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

Earlier this month, TVB organized a drama sales presentation, introducing the upcoming year's drama productions. While the popular and critically successful Forensic Heroes series was announced to be filming a third season, original main cast Bobby Au-yeung, Frankie Lam, Yoyo Mung, etc. are nowhere to be seen. Instead, Kevin Cheng gives a solo appearance, causing netizens to come together to criticize the upcoming production, also remarking, "If there's no Bobby they shouldn't film it!"

Every year, the TVB Anniversary Awards are seen as an important event for the television world. TVB's sales presentation is also equally treated to be important. Earlier on TVB introduced the upcoming year's drama program lineup, which included the soon-to-film Forensic Heroes III. Bobby Au-yeung and Frankie Lam, who were part of the original main cast of the series, are nowhere to be seen for the third installment. Kevin Cheng's recurring character Ivan Yeung in Forensic Heroes II, however, is instead shown as the main lead in the upcoming production.

In 2006, Bobby Au-yeung and Frankie Lam's Forensic Heroes achieved high ratings of 38 points. Two years later the original cast, with the addition of Kevin Cheng and Charmaine Sheh, came together for a second season, which also garnered high ratings. Wanting to continue the success, TVB is already preparing for a third season. Unfortunately, the first and second generation cast is nowhere to be seen, including second generation cast member and Kevin Cheng's rumored girlfriend Charmaine Sheh. There is speculation that the reason why Charmaine Sheh is left out of the list is due to the fact that the audience might grow uninterested to the pair after their appearances together in both Forensic Heroes II and Beyond the Realm of Conscience. Aside Kevin Cheng's solo appearance in Forensic Heroes III, female cast members are also reduced to only Mandy Cho, Leanne Li, and Vivienne Yeo.

Many claim that Bobby Au-yeung is the trademark of Forensic Heroes. His absence in the third season disgruntled the audience. Recently many netizens came together in forums to discuss their disappointments in the third installment, claiming that the new production is like "hanging a goat's head but selling dog meat." Other netizens remarked that the absence of Bobby Au-yeung and Frankie Lam in the Forensic Heroes series is like without Ron Ng and Sammul Chan for the The Academy series. Netizen TENMA said, "What the hell? Can it not be called Forensic Heroes III? It stinks up the name!" Another netizen ken715 remarked, "If they're cutting out Bobby and Frankie, it shouldn't be called Forensic Heroes III. It ruins the name!" Other netizens remarked that as long as there is the Forensic Heroes series there should be Bobby Au-yeung, claiming Bobby to be the image of the series.

Reporters phoned Bobby Au-yeung's manager, asking if the reason of his absence in the series is due to schedule conflicts. She honestly replied "Actually, no one ever contacted us about it. (Forensic Heroes III only includes Kevin Cheng?) Maybe they think he's more suitable. I think it's better if you ask the producer." However, the drama's producer Mui Siu-ching is busy preparing the script, and could not be contacted.

Apple Wins Key Legal Round in Battle With Psystar

11/16/2009 11:35:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Apple Inc. has won an important round in its legal battle against Psystar Corp., which sells computers based on the Apple Macintosh operating system.

Apple first accused Psystar of copyright infringement in a lawsuit filed in July 2008, which was about four months after Psystar began selling its machines.

Recently, both sides asked U.S. District Judge William Alsup to decide on many of the case's key issues, including, as Psystar alleges, whether Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., is abusing its Macintosh software copyright.

On Friday, Judge Alsup ruled in Apple's favor and against Psystar.

"Psystar's use of Mac OS X has been in excess and has violated Apple's copyrights," the judge wrote at one point in his 16-page order.

The decision appears to gut Psystar's entire line of defense, according to the legal Web site Groklaw. "Psystar is toast," Groklaw wrote.

An Apple representative didn't immediately respond to requests Sunday for comment.

A spokesman for Psystar couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Psystar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May.

On its Web site Sunday, Psystar, based in Doral, Fla., offered three different desktop computers capable of using Apple's operating system, with prices ranging from $599 to $1,499.

Kara on Ellen: "Idol" Chemistry Is Crucial

11/16/2009 11:35:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments

Kara DioGuardi wants to hang out with Ellen DeGeneres before the new season of "American Idol" to get the judges working together comfortably.

The second-year judge said she plans on spending down time in December with the newest addition to "Idol."

"I'm hoping the chemistry with Ellen will be great -- and a great start to the season," she said at the Media and Money conference in New York on Friday.

It's all part of her effort to establish her identity on the Fox show after a rookie year that saw plenty of criticism come her way about her on-air role. She explained, "you have to know on the show who you are and have a vision of yourself. What am I trying to represent? You'll see more of this branding myself."

DioGuardi also had kind words for Paula Abdul. Asked by Billboard editorial director Bill Werde what she thought of the departing judge, with whom DioGuardi as a songwriter has a long relationship, DioGuardi called her "the heart of the show." In her view, Abdul "nurtured and empathized. That was her role, and she was great at it."

As a songwriter, business owner (Arthouse Entertainment) and most recently a senior vp at Warner Bros. Records, DioGuardi has been mostly focused on inspiring, critiquing and putting young artists through their paces. That includes dealing with what she says all musicians have to confront at one time or another: rejection.

Her role on "Idol" has reflected that background and approach -- but could now shift, given the dynamics to come.

"The show exists without me," she said. "It's really a TV show, not just a singing contest: It's about the American dream, and it also plays an A&R (talent-discovery) role."

In other remarks to the mostly business and advertising executives at the Roosevelt Hotel gathering, the Duke-educated entrepreneur dispelled for the audience any notion that successful creative people do anything "without working their asses off." A little crazy, well, yes, but disciplined totally.

"I made a choice early on to do something very difficult -- though when friends heard I wanted to be a songwriter they'd say 'how cute," she said, imitating a cutesy voice. But, to make it in such a tough business, she said she had to be "very focused, consistently looking at the trends."

And, DioGuardi noted that having had a stint at Billboard as her first job, she was savvy about the business of music before going out on her own.

"I was educated about where revenue streams came from," she told Werde. "Eventually I bet on myself and I knew, unlike many artists who can't pay the rent, I'd make a living (at running her own company and owning her own copyrights)."

In selling part of her own company, she said she thought of it as a stock, buy low, sell high, and indeed managed a great deal, tax advantages and all. She had spent $5,000 to set Arthouse up out of her grandmother's house: All it took was "a pad, a car and my voice," she said.

SHINee’s Onew is making a speedy recovery from H1N1

11/16/2009 11:34:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Diagnosed with the H1N1 virus late last week, SHINee’s leader Onew is currently making a speedy recovery.

SHINee’s management company SM Entertainment said in a phone interview this morning: “Onew’s body temperature has returned to normal, and he is now making frequent video calls to his good friends. He is in a good state of health as of now.”

The company also said: “Onew will be sent to the hospital on either the 12th or the 13th, to check if he has recovered fully from the virus.”

Before Onew, lead vocal Jonghyun had also fallen ill due to the H1N1 virus on the 3rd, and made a full recovery on the 6th. SHINee is currently promoting title track Ring Ding Dong as a 4-member group.

CrunchPad is 'steamrolling along,' will cost between $300 and $400

11/16/2009 11:34:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments



We're not super familiar with the term "steamrolling along" as it applies to device launches, but apparently it's good news for Michael Arrington's CrunchPad tablet. Mike dropped the news on a recent episode of Steve Gillmor's "Gillmor Gang" podcast (like "Gilmore Girls," but with less inter-generational drama), saying that he's not sure where the rumor of cost being too high came from, since costs continue to come down. The "$300 to $400" price range he's quoting is a bit higher than we'd heard previously, but it still sounds pretty good for a 12-inch touchscreen device. He also made mention of "soft revenue" and "sponsorships" on the device, akin to the revenue Firefox gets from its Google search box, and added that it won't impact the user experience. Outside of those tidbits Mike says they're working on making it "perfect," and that there should be some big news about the device coming shortly. Video is after the break, CrunchPad discussion starts at the 39 minute mark.

Miley Cyrus "death" does the rounds

11/16/2009 11:32:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

It appears rumours of Miley Cyrus' death have been much exaggerated - again.

News about the Hannah Montana star's latest "death" by car accident has been burning bright online, but luckily for her legion of fans, the singer and actress is still alive and well.

It is not the first time such rumours have abounded about Cyrus.

And she is certainly not the first celebrity to fall victim to premature news of her death.

Just a couple of months ago Kanye West was also an apparent victim of a car accident.

And the day of Michael Jackson's death was notable for Jeff Goldblum when a long-running internet hoax reported that he had died in a fall while filming a movie in New Zealand. Goldblum's "death" was reported breathlessly on some Australian media before they realised their folly.

Chinese Paladin 3 team does Fantasy Zhu Xian minidrama/commercial

11/16/2009 11:32:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments

As Chinese Paladin 3 became popular among both tv and game fans, companies began fighting for a chance to work with them. Chinese Paladin 3 actors and actresses Hu Ge, Liu Shishi, Yuan Hong, Tang Yan and Guo Xiaoting all will make a video for the video game "Fantasy Zhu Xian."


Three High's makes CP3 loved
Since airing, Shanghai Tangren Film's "Chinese Paladin 3," based on the popular role-playing game of the same name, has had many successes. Not only have they broken records in Shandong, Hubei and other provinces, they have also been top rated in areas like Hangzhou and Chengdu. Since airing three months ago, it's been leading web searches. With high ratings, high popularity and high viewership, Chinese Paladin 3 because one of the hottest subjects in the summer of 2009. This naturally lead to attention by companies, and the leads of Chinese Paladin 3 became top choices for video game companies.


Teamwork brings back perfect works
This time working, the cast of "Chinese Paladin 3" will appear in all new roles, and the costumes and filming will be done by the same production team as that of "Chinese Paladin 3." Two such strong teams working together will surely bring an impressive visual feast.


Upgraded Samsung Corby announced in Korea with 3G, WQVGA screen and more

11/16/2009 11:32:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

In Europe, the Samsung Corby S3650 may be a 3G-less, entry-level phone, but, for South Korea, Samsung decided to upgrade it a bit.


Announced as Samsung SCH-W900 / SPH-W9000 / SPH-W9050, the Korean Corby features a 3 inch WQVGA display – as opposed to the 2.8 inch QVGA screen of the European version.

Furthermore, the improved Corby has 3G connectivity, Haptic UI, DMB TV and more than 100MB of internal memory (the European version has 50MB).



The Samsung Corby SCH-W900 / SPH-W9000 / SPH-W9050 will be available in several color versions, including Minimal White, Cupid Pink, Jamaican Yellow and Energetic Green.

Sex tape glory not worth hype

11/16/2009 11:19:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Each person walking the streets of Minneapolis has a different set of interests, yet I am positive I know one thing that would interest most all of them — sex. Sex is something we become enamored with at a young age. We are curious about the opposite (or sometimes the same) sex in elementary school, take sex education in middle school and most of us start experimenting in high school, so by the time college sneaks up, we’re experts. While experimenting with a partner (or two) is a good way to keep things spicy, sex, like most things, can get taken too far.

Many celebrities have either become famous or propelled themselves back into the spotlight by flaunting their sexuality in a very public manner. What do Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Dustin Diamond (Screech) all have in common? They all have sex tapes. With Hollywood glorifying the making of sex tapes, it would only be natural for some of society to mimic that very act. Making a sex tape with someone can be fun, but it can have serious consequences. A sex tape should never be made, even with someone you love and trust.

Take it from Carrie Prejean, former Miss California USA. Carrie has undergone heaps of scrutiny from the media and the gay community after saying during a Miss USA Pageant that marriage should be kept between a man and woman. According to The Huffington Post, Carrie admitted to a sex tape, telling Sean Hannity that it was “the worst mistake of my life.” Technically, the tape was a masturbation video Carrie made in her teens for her then-boyfriend and never dreamed it would get leaked.

Carrie was hoping to sue her former bosses from the Miss California Corporation for religious discrimination, but her sex tape surfaced during the settlement, and she was ultimately blackmailed into dropping charges. The Miss California Corporation let Carrie’s past, which included the sex tape, dictate her future.

While most sex tapes are made between two consenting parties, sometimes sex tapes are made without permission. Let that be a warning to some of you searching for the perfect one-night stand. You may want to check the bedroom for any blinking red lights (indicating a video or digital camera) before stripping. Forty-three-year-old Deryck Reid currently faces prison time for taking pictures of his naked roommate without her consent in Quincy, Mass. Were there others?

Making a sex tape can seem like an adventurous suggestion to shake up the sheets, and it is. Watching yourself in the nude, performing one of the most scandalous, private acts would be a thrill. And it’s easy. The only equipment needed is you, your lover, a set and the video recorder. In fact, this year, askmen.com published a whole list of tips dedicated toward making a sex tape. Making the tape would give the private act a false sense of publicity, but let’s face it, you don’t really want that publicity.

Though you may think you are resistant to a sex-tape scandal because you are not planning on a career in the entertainment industry, think again. There are many people who would quickly purchase that tape from your current or previous lover in order to post it to a pornography Web site or use it for their own, well … purposes. While you may think the tape has been produced for the sole purpose of the enticement of you and your partner, you can’t deny that unexpected things happen. You two could have a bitter breakup, one thing could lead to another and the next thing you know the whole world, including your dad, has seen your “O-face.” A bad breakup is only one of the many, many scenarios that could lead to the leaking of a sex tape.

Other implications that may not even cross your mind in the heat of the moment come into play as well. Think about all the noises that are emitted during sex, and I’m not talking about the “ooos” and the “ahhhhs.” Sex noises can not only sound nasty but can be downright embarrassing. Ladies, I think there is one word that would surely deter most of us from making a sex tape: “queef,” also known as vaginal flatulence. The noises aren’t the only surprises that can sneak up as unexpected surprises in a raunchy video. The image that you have of yourself as a sex god/goddess getting frisky may not be the exact image that you see on the television screen. Every fat roll, shake and jiggle would be glorified in the horrific aftermath that you would see.

There are other more long-term consequences of making the sex tape, as well. Of course, there is the obvious terror, which is the fact that your risqué home video could end up in the hands of the closet pervert or aspiring pornography entrepreneur. However, the reality is that even if you erase the tape, throw it away, burn it or jump on it, the memory will still be embedded into your head. The creation of that memory is up to you, and if these risks are not enough to deter you from taping, take a peek at the November issue of Cosmopolitan, which compiles a whole list of consequences that sex tapes can and do bring with them.

While many of you may feel discouraged because your mischievous bedroom itch still hasn’t been scratched, there is an alternative: mirrors. Hang one above your bed or on the ceiling; this will allow you to have the short-term thrill a sex tape may give, without the long-term consequences.

Spicy in the bedroom does not have to mean scalding. In the end, it may be best to try keeping a little mystery for your future partner(s) and yourself by keeping the video recorder out of the bedroom. Some fantasies — sex tapes included — might be better left in our minds than on cassette.

[Via Paige Vigil, Mndaily]

Ekin Cheng to hold a concert next month

11/16/2009 11:19:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Yesterday Ekin Cheng attended an event for digital camera brand Canon at Harbour City. The organizers gave him a camera covered with sparkling stones as a gift. Next month, Ekin will be holding a concert and will use the VIP tickets as a "gift back" for the camera. Asked if he would give the new camera to his girlfriend Yoyo Mung? Ekin said: "This one is for myself, how can you give away a gift that someone gave you?" He praised that Canon is very generous, not only did they give him a new camera as a gift, but they also provided the necessary materials for the camera (strap, instructions).

Asked if he takes pictures of his girlfriend in usual days? Ekin said: "Usually I would do so during vacations, but not really during usual days. (You take pictures of her!) When we are on trips, but I like to take pictures of scenery more, we are artistic! (Artistic photos are usually not useful) No one for me to take pictures of, actually I rather people take pictures of me, so I can see if I'm fit or not." Ekin frankly said that his girlfriend will be supporting two shows for his concert, but she won't be going on stage to duet with him. "Don't scare everyone, don't scare her."

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