Unionized video game voice actors are considering a strike | Ars Technica "The truth is, back end bonuses are not uncommon in the video game industry," the union writes in an FAQ laying out its position on the negotiations. "Last year, Activision's COO took home a bonus of $3,970,862. EA paid their executive chairman a bonus of $1.5 million. We applaud their success, and we believe our talent and contributions are worth a bonus payment, too."

Labels: animal farm

iOS 9 Safari content blockers debut to demand, denouncement & a high-profile delisting

Apple has decided to fight back with a one-two punch, offering third-party developers the ability to create their own content blocking plugins for Safari, and thus allowing users to download them and have a more pleasant, ad-free mobile experience. In the second prong of this attack, Apple is also delivering content from publishers — AppleInsider included — via iOS 9's News app.

Labels: apple vs. google

Burberry launches Apple Music channel in first collaboration since Angela Ahrendts hire

UK fashion house Burberry on Monday announced a new streaming channel for Apple Music, marking the companies' first official product collaboration since Apple hired former CEO Angela Ahrendts to head its retail arm.

Labels: corporate rock

Alda lets you compose music in a text editor

For years, composers and producers have used complex tools to digitally score music. Developer Dave Yarwood wants to change all that with Alda, a new programming language he created to help people write scores with little to no coding experience.

Labels: electronic music composition

BBC to open up iPlayer to third parties, double down on high-quality dramas | Ars Technica

The BBC is fighting back against the government's aggressive TV licence fee budget by promising to open up several of its services, including its much admired iPlayer streaming platform, to third-party content creators. The broadcaster also wants to introduce new Internet-led streaming services such as BBC Newstream, a video-led mobile news channel, and iPlay, a version of iPlayer designed for children.

Labels: distribution

Why Hatsune Miku May Be the Future of Music -- Vulture: "Hatsune Miku, one of Japan’s most famous pop stars, has been 16 for the past seven years. She wears her cascading aquamarine hair in pigtails that skim the ground when she dances, and according to stats offered up on her record company’s website, she stands five-two and weighs about 93 pounds. She has opened for Lady Gaga, collaborated with Pharrell, and sung more than 100,000 songs, dabbling quite literally in every genre imaginable. If you’ve heard of her, you’ve probably heard her described as a ‘hologram’; maybe you’ve also heard people say she doesn’t exist."

Labels: dymaxion home, future music

Pop Goes the Algorithm | World Future Society: "‘There was clearly something there,’ says Mike McCready, who ran the company. ‘Our guys played it over and over again.’ A musician himself, McCready called some recording label contacts in Europe and got the song circulating."

Labels: apple music

Apple Is Reportedly Working On Original TV Shows And Movies As It Plans Netflix-Style Service | Redmond Pie: "Tim Cook’s company apparently made an audacious bid to secure the services of the ex-BBC trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May before the financial might of Amazon stepped in to ensure that the ex-Top Gear hosts became part of its own original programming roster."

Labels: apple tv