With Comcast and NBC’s immense lobbying firepower, there’s virtually no chance their merger will be denied by regulators and while there will be some conditions, recent history suggests the conditions may only give a quick nod to substantive consumer protections. According to the Wall Street Journal however, these conditions will be “significant” focused largely on preventing Comcast from withholding, or threatening to withhold, NBC Universal’s programming from competitors. The Journal also claims that the FCC is considering imposing some kind of network neutrality requirements on Comcast’s network:

The FCC is looking at all parts of Comcast and NBC Universal’s combined online-video distribution chain for ways Comcast could promote content over its rivals. The agency is considering imposing a “net neutrality” condition on Comcast’s Internet network, banning it from deliberately slowing or blocking legal traffic. FCC staff members are meeting twice a week with commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about the deal and have set an internal deadline of circulating proposed conditions by mid-December, according to a person familiar with the review.

Given the contentiousness of network neutrality and the FCC’s seeming unwillingness to seriously tackle this issue, any neutrality language will likely be very vague and focused on simple transparency if it even survives the final cut at the FCC. According to the Journal, final DOJ approval could come within weeks, though Comcast is apparently kicking back at any proposed conditions that would cover Internet video.

Link to the original article…

Netflix’s streaming video application for the iPhone allows users to access their streaming instant queue from anywhere and works surprisingly well whether the user is connected via Wi-Fi or AT&T’s 3G network. The same application was recently announced for Windows 7 Phones, and according to a post on the Netflix blog, it will also launch on Android devices early next year.

The hold up according to Netflix? DRM. The delay was due to “the lack of a generic and complete platform security and content protection mechanism available for Android.” “The same security issues that have led to piracy concerns on the Android platform have made it difficult for us to secure a common Digital Rights Management (DRM) system on these devices,” says the company.

Link to the original article…

I’ll have to admit that this is the first Christmas shopping season where I’ve yet to complete my shopping – been way too busy and there’s been way too many gadgets that I’ve wanted for myself. With that said, it looks like BradsDeals.com and Yahoo! Shopping are trying to find a way to make the next 60 (or so) days of this shopping season and beyond that much easier for all of us online shoppers.

BradsDeals.com, the leading website for shopping deals and advice, and Yahoo! Shopping, the #1 comparison shopping site are expanding their commitment to providing consumers with the best deals this holiday season. This year they are building upon their successful partnership on with “60 Days of Deals!” where each day through January 5, 2011, Yahoo! Shopping, Yahoo! Deals and BradsDeals.com will showcase one exclusive offer from a major retailer.

“Our editorial team (at BradsDeal.com) is tracking sales and coupons for the season’s must-have items at nearly 1500 retailers. A ‘BradsDeal’ is what happens when we match one of those valuable coupons with a deeply-discounted sale item.”

With Yahoo! Shopping involved, over 20 million people have access to these 1500+ deals. Take the hint, don’t be lazy and check it all out. I know that I will.

[ Links: BradsDeals.com, Yahoo! Shopping ]

With Apple TV and Google TV both vying for our attention from our desktops to our televisions, there’s plenty of more room for other media center devices, right?

The Amino Freedom is designed to support common Internet formats such as Adobe® Flash® and Microsoft® Silverlight® and is powered by the first generation of Intel and Nokia’s MeeGo for the TV – enabling us to innovate at Internet speed and keep you one step ahead of the next big thing.

Cool thing, it’s powered by the Intel/Nokia operating system, MeeGo. Bad part, it’s not due out until 4th quarter of this year. Well that and pricing is also to be announced.

[ Links: Amino Freedom ]

Rumors have been circulating for some time that Hulu is planning a $9.95 subscription service with a select few episodes still available for free but a catalog of additional seasons available for a monthly fee. Those rumors continue to bubble over, with some anonymous sources insisting that the subscription “Hulu Plus” could launch as soon as next week though possibly only for a limited base of 10,000 testers. As you can imagine, stumbling blocks remain in Hulu’s negotiations with broadcasters, who cling tightly to program licensing out of fear of the broadband video (r)evolution. The service is also expected to see integration with the XBOX 360 but rumors also now point to PS3 integration as well.

Link to the original article…

In case you’ve not heard yet, if you’re the owner of a non-slim Sony PS3, or “phat” or “fat” Sony PlayStation 3, it’s in your best interest to not try to play any games until either a fix is in place or until the datetime error is fixed.

“As you may be aware, some customers have been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network today. This problem affects the models other than the new slim PS3.

We believe we have identified that this problem is being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.

Errors include:

• The date of the PS3 system may be re-set to Jan 1, 2000.
• When the user tries to sign-in to the PlayStation Network, the following message appears on the screen; “An error has occurred. You have been signed out of PlayStation Network (8001050F)”.
• When the user tries to launch a game, the following error message appears on the screen and the trophy data may disappear; “Failed to install trophies. Please exit your game.”
• When the user tries to set the time and date of the system via the Internet, the following message appears on the screen; “The current date and time could not be obtained. (8001050F)”
• Users are not able to playback certain rental video downloaded from the PlayStation Store before the expiration date.

We hope to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, if you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data.

Bad part… now that I cannot play my Sony PS3, I actually want to play it now.

UPDATE: Sony has “fixed” the problem, proceed with playing your games and collecting your trophies in peace now.

[ Links: PS3 IGN, Sony's Secret Warranty Timer? ]

People use the word “Photoshop” sometimes as a verb or an action when honestly Adobe Photoshop is the de facto standard for image manipulation for professionals. But what if you wanted to create a simple collage. You’d not expect your mother or grandmother to have access and know what you mean when you say things like Layer Effects, Gaussian Blur, layer application methods, and the other nice things that Photoshop can bring to the table in the hands of a pro.

Photovisi [ site here ] allows you to quickly create stylized collages from your very own photos via quick and easy to use templates for usage as a computer desktop or for print for sharing with others and does not require you to be a pro. Nor does it cost you anything either. Definitely worth a bookmark or sharing with your family members that don’t have access to Photoshop but ask you to do these type of images/collages.

Built out of quality materials, the OtterBox Apple iPhone cases, the Defender Case (pictured above) and other OtterBox Apple iPhone cases are now being offered in the AT&T stores.

Looking to personalize your iPhone™ with stylish and rugged protection? Available only at AT&T, OtterBox announces two custom color options for the Defender™ Series for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, a black shell with white silicone or pink shell with black silicone—ready to take on all the bumps, drops and scratches of life!

With 99 percent coverage to keep your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS looking new, the OtterBox Defender Series offers three layers.* First, a thin, clear membrane covers the touchscreen to keep it safe from scratches. Second, a tough polycarbonate shell fortifies the iPhone against drops and impact and finally, a silicone skin absorbs shock and keeps dust and dirt out of ports and plugs.

“The OtterBox Defender Series provides iPhone users with the ultimate protection against expensive repairs and replacements,” said Curt Richardson, OtterBox CEO. “It has been our most popular model to date and now customers can find customizable colors through AT&T.”

The Defender sells for $49.95 at the OtterBox online store [ site here ] and in the AT&T stores.

[ OtterBox ] [ AT&T Cell Phone Accessories ]

I’m a chronic deal finder and honestly, it is sometimes a very boring, tedious and above all, a very solitary event. Sitting behind a computer, click, click… click. Yeah… what happened to the days when you went out, shared what you liked, got advice on the spot from your relatively outspoken friends and got instant feedback on what you liked, didn’t like.

If you’re anything like the majority of the shoppers now, you’ll probably have to go back to the bell bottoms that your friends somehow convinced you to buy way back… oh wait. Maybe that’s just me. Anyway, bad fashion decisions aside, Friendshopper.com wants to bring back that feeling of camaraderie and the joy of bringing folks together when they shop together, something that is sorely missing from the online shopping experience.

But that’s not possible without a very robust framework that allows for bookmark sharing, item sharing and communication in real time.

Now, to the important bits. This isn’t like Kaboodle which had the social shopping bit “tacked on” – it’s there but it’s not the same. Kaboodle is about as social (to me) as showing you my want list on Amazon.com. Via the FriendShopper.com bookmarklet – look ma, no installs! – and some clever tech, you can decide what’s private and what you will share with other FriendShopper.com members/friends. And in the next coming month, Josh Bochner, the CEO of FriendShopper.com has let me know that a few surprises are in store. An Apple iPhone app and Facebook integration are both forthcoming.

And some other surprises too

With that, I really like FriendShopper.com. It allows me to get instant feedback from my friends, see what they’re looking at while we’re talking, instantly share images and links and finally get rid of that solitary confinement feeling when I’m sitting here behind my desk shopping online.

If only FriendShopper.com also did blogging tools too… oh well. Just another tool to use in shopping online and trying to save that buck or three in this economy.

[ FriendShopper ]

Photo Credit: Image via Morguefile.com member Alvimann.

By their own accord, it’s a “casual MMORPG” easy enough for most anybody to pick up, get into, play, kick butt, and have fun… ok, I’m interested. And for once, a cool looking game that didn’t originate from either Europe, the USA or Japan will finally be made available to the gaming populace worldwide.

In an interview with MuhanGames…

“Briefly, what is ‘ZzangOnline’?”

ZzangOnline is a horizontal scroll casual MMORPG. It’s an easy to play game. There are other similar games i.e. Dungeon & Fighter, Quest Play, Get Amped, and GemFighter, etc.

Unlike other existing casual games, ZzangOnline has 3D characters, instead of cartoon renderings. It has dynamic actions and a slow motion feature for battling enemies. The Battle zone is a PvP mode. Up to 4 are allowed to participate to clear quests.

Speaking of a ‘battle zone’, there are ‘Sun’ and ‘Judgment’ opposing to each other also in the game. Gamers are to occupy the ‘battle zone’ through battles in the system.

“What about the overseas marketing strategy of ZzangOnline?”

Southeastern Asia has a similar culture to Korea and is familiar with a horizontal scroll game. However in America, most users are familiar with video games, not with horizontal scrolling. So, we are focusing first on the Asian market as a key area for our overseas marketing, before expanding into North America and Europe. Actually, we are currently dealing with some countries in Southeast Asia.

“How about a strategy to overseas marketing through a GSP?”

We started a CBT in January and it is still being conducted. We had a large update added in April, in which the battle zone in the PvP area was added, as well as quest contents. User Interfaces were updated too. In the morning, users from Europe usually enter through a GSP, as well as users from Brazil and other Spanish speaking users. The status of user’s access looks stable.

We are currently serving the same contents in English as well as Korean, and are planning for an OBT of the game later this year…

Despite the odd as heck name for the game, I’m willing to try it out.