Wired.com is reporting that federal judge, Marilyn Hall Patel, has decided to place an indefinite ban on Real Networks’ RealDVD software which the MPAA claims violates the DMCA — even though Real defends that its software in no way circumvents DVD encrpytion and in fact makes a bit for bit digital copy of the contents of a DVD disc to a users hard drive (details on how RealDVD works and its usage). Patel reaffirmed: “I’m not satisfied that in fact this technology is not in violation of the DMCA.” What’s worrisome is that the judge appears to agree with the MPAA attorney that fair use (or the right for people to make digital backup copies of their purchased media) is no defense to DMCA circumvention violations. In other words, the law trumps personal freedoms. (So, again, ask yourself… Who really owns your digital media collection?) Wired.com adds that it’s not likely that a final judgement will come until after the holiday season. [via]

Related: EFF.org — Why MPAA Should Lose Against RealDVD

It’s hard to imagine what more Hollywood Studios will be willing to bundle in to a Blu-ray disc with a 100GB of capacity, but here we are. According to PC World, Sanyo’s new blue laser can “emit a beam of 450 milliwatts, which is about double the power of Sanyo’s current highest power laser for Blu-ray Disc systems. The higher power means it can write and read data on discs with up to four data layers and at speeds of up to 12X.” In other words, 12X speeds means users will be able to burn a 100GB disc with 8 hours of HD video in about 10 minutes. Unfortunately, most Blu-ray players these days only support 6X speed double-layer discs, so one can only conclude that this new tech will either require people to buy new players, if Hollywood embraces the technology, or be limited as a niche technology for Blu-ray disc publishing on a PC for video work and/or data backup duties. Sanyo says devices with the new diode should be available within the next two to three years.

Aside: One neat thing I can think of that Hollywood could do with this is bundle in a full version of a console game based on the feature film. We’ve seen some examples along these lines at a smaller level already being included, but a PS3/PC title written on the same disc as the movie (for roughly the same price) would be awesome. Of course, there’s other opportunties for multiple smaller video format versions to used for on-the-go viewing on portable devices.

Among the top designated marketing areas (DMAs), San Francisco, Miami and Los Angeles are the most connected cities, based on home networking adoption, according to new research from MultiMedia Intelligence. A wired or wireless home network allows consumers to connect multiple PCs and printers, and to share Internet access among computers. MORE »

According to a new ABI Research survey of online households in the United States, the number of consumers watching video streamed through a browser has doubled over the past year, going from 32% a year ago to 63% today. ABI Research believes this is due to growth in the amount of rich content available in ad-supported format on portals and through social networks, as well as increasing demand from consumers for video in both short- and long-form online. MORE »

Worldwide subscriptions to internet Protocol television (IPTV) services are on pace to reach 19.6 million subscribers in 2008, a 64.1 per cent increase from 12 million subscribers in 2007, according to Gartner, Inc. Worldwide IPTV revenue is projected to total $4.5 billion in 2008, a 93.5 per cent increase from 2007 revenue of $2.3 billion. MORE »

Freedom Fry — “Happy birthday to GNU”
Mr. Stephen Fry introduces you to free software, and reminds you of a very special birthday.

Sorry I’m a little late on this one. On September 2nd GNU celebrated its 25th year of existence. As an advocate for software freedom, the promotion of the free GNU/Linux operating system, and the catalyst to the whole Open Source software movement, the GNU Project deserves some time in the spotlight on their birthday for their contribution to the technological landscape it helped shape, to this day protects (with a variety of GPLs), and all the applications/programs created under their philosophy that we all benefit from in our everyday lives (mostly without even knowing it). MORE »

Consumer demand for intelligent control applications will push U.S. revenues for wireless and powerline controls from $740 million in 2008 to over $3 billion in 2012, according to Opportunities for Wireless & Powerline Controls. MORE »

Interesting commentary by CNET’s Don Reisinger on Google’s plan on moving some of its data centers (and possibly some of its other operations) to International waters. On the surface, Google is spinning its plans as a way to offset high-energy costs by using the world’s oceans as a natural way to cool their servers, as noted in their patent application covered by the NYTimes.com. However, some fear that something more nefarious might be going on. Data collection and privacy concerns have been an issue in the past with Google, so the news that they’re considering moving parts of its business offshore, where they can’t be monitored or regulated, is obviously raising some red flags.

Today, an international and cross-industry group of more than 20 leading companies announced the formation of a consortium, Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC (”DECE LLC”), that will define and build a new digital media framework using industry standards, and will enable consumers to acquire and play content across a wide range of services and devices. Anchored by Alcatel-Lucent, Best Buy, Cisco, Comcast, Fox Entertainment Group, HP, Intel, Lionsgate, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Philips, Sony, Toshiba, VeriSign and Warner Bros. Entertainment, DECE LLC will address growing consumer confusion around buying, downloading and playing digital content offered by multiple services by working toward a simple, uniform digital media experience. MORE »

Best Buy Co., Inc. and Napster Inc. announced today that the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement for Best Buy to commence a tender offer for all outstanding Napster shares at a price of $2.65 per share in cash. The transaction, with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $121 million (or $54 million net of approximately $67 million in cash and short term investments of Napster as of June 30, 2008), is subject to customary closing conditions, including the tender of a number of Napster shares that constitutes a majority of Napster’s outstanding shares of common stock (on a fully-diluted basis). The transaction is expected to close during the fourth calendar quarter. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of Napster, and Napster’s directors and executive officers have agreed, in their capacities as stockholders, to tender their Napster shares and otherwise support the transaction. MORE »