Hollywood2020

TV2GO Joyce Schwarz Predictions from 2003

TV2Go -- TELEVISION ANYWHERE -- as noted in the previous blog Joyce Schwarz wrote one of the first articles for trade publication TV WEEK on the latest market for TV content-- streaming media to handheld and mobile devices back in April, 2003.  (Here are some old links but I can't promise they still work (I found on the MPEG forum)Delivering Television Anywhere [Television Week, 25 Apr 03]   Delivering Television Anywhere [by rafat] [by rafat] [Apr.16, 03] | Wireless |

Note the HIGHBEAM article link still worksTelevision Anywhere; Streaming to PDAs, Cellphones New Market for TV Content.(Converging Media)(new devices are going to change how television is viewed)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TV WEEK ARTICLE ON TV ANYWHERE BY JOYCE SCHWARZ, APRIL 2003:

TV 24/7/365, is fast becoming the new reality as telephony and broadcasting converge to enable the next generation of PVP’s (portable video players) that will power “TV To Go”. While manufacturers of PCs,laptops, PDAs even some mobile phones are retrofitting to transmit and receive streaming video, new specs and new products are evolving for the next generation of ‘Screenagers’ who want their TV anytime and everywhere.

PICTURE MESSAGING BUILDING BLOCKS:

Picture messaging and mobile phone cameras are seen as building blocks for the yellow brick road to the ultimate electronic Oz of broadcast distribution of music, video and multimedia content including TV transmission to mobile devices. Previewed at the DVB 2003 conference in Dublin this month, a new technology combining Digital Video Broadcast and 3G mobile telephony, called DVB-X is a one-to-many broadcast system to transmit multimedia content to a large audience via mobile handsets. Goeran Wahlberg, Nokia’s director of concepts and technology told conference attendees that DVB-X will become a mandatory spec for handheld devices in the future.

BROADCAST TV TO PHONES:

“Broadcast TV to phones is still 12-18 months away,” explains Mark Desautels, Vice President of Wireless Internet Development for the wireless industry trade organization CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association). He says that his group is taking a number of steps to work with the entertainment industry to facilitate pre-eminent content to mobile devices and insure high quality reception for the user. Mr. Desautels states that DRM (Digital Rights Management) issues regarding video transmission are on the table and will be a priority in the next 3 months.

TAKEOUT TELEVISION:

Europeans meanwhile are getting the first taste of ‘takeout TV” as part of a video pilot to transmit Internet material to mobile phones. Sonera (Finland’s major communications operator)launches their beta video service this week that enable customers using the Nokia 3650 phone or other devices with RealOne Mobile Players from Real Networks to watch videos. Viewers will get their choice of MTV3’s morning news, Nelonen’s 4Pop (a pop-culture broadcast) and Kaista music videos.

CONTENT TO BE FREE AT FIRST:

RealNetworks, Ian Freed, vice president mobile products and services says that the Sonera pilot is just one example of how consumers are starting to use their phones in ways they never suspected a couple of years ago. “Audio and video on phones and PDAs is definitely here,” he adds. Mr. Freed explains that content providers and carriers are working together to develop new broadcast-type services. Content is expected to be free at first and then transition to subscription although air time will have to be covered by the consumer. Real Networks launched MLB Gameday Mobile last season and expect to offer it again this year to give baseball fans streaming updates before, during and after games.

BROADCASTERS WATCHING EVOLUTION OF 3G ACCORDING TO JOHN MARINO, VP, NAB.

Broadcasters are intently watching the evolution of 3G technology in the telecom industry according to John G. Marino, Vice President, Science & Technology, NAB (National Association of Broadcasters). “However at this stage, we are not sure if this new broadcast platform will be 3G (telephony) or Wi-Fi (a wireless radio transmission frequency); both of these of these technologies have the potential to offer consumers alternative ways to receive broadcast content”, he says. The annual NAB conference running in Las Vegas through April 11, labels itself, appropriately.’the world’s largest electronic media show’. Mr. Marino underscores that as new opportunities develop, such as broadcasting directly to cell phones, radio and television broadcasters will want to be the suppliers of program content.

VIDEO PLAYBACK DEVICES:

Meantime, the brightest star on the broadcasting horizon appears to be the launch of video playback devices. Stealing the spotlight is Microsoft’s Media2Go software platform, which is built around Windows CE.Net and developed by its embedded systems group. Microsoft began shipping Intel Xscale-based reference hardware in March. Aubrey Edwards, director of marketing for Microsoft’s Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group says that Media2Go is designed to be used as a playback device. “Media2Go provides consumers with the ability to not only choose when to watch their favorite recorded TV content but also where they watch this content”, Edwards explains.

PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYBACK GROWING:

Creative Technology, developer of the Nomad range of MP3 players is partnering with Microsoft to create a line of these portable media playback systems. A built-in hard drive holds music, video and photos, OEM partners can add varying screen sizes (from 3” to even 6 or 7”) and even integrated LCD panels. Microsoft is counting on users recording and storing content somewhere else, most likely a PC or any number of products that provide Personal Video Recorder support for the PC and then downloading it to their players using a method called ‘sync ‘n go’ The Media2Go systems will feature a 20GB hard drive and said to be enough to hold more than 8000 music files, 175 hours of digital quality video or up to 30,000 photographs by compressing almost 40GB of data onto the 20GB.

VIDEO QUALITY AND BATTERY PLAYBACK ISSUES:

The catch some critics say is that the video is VCR level quality and battery life is six hours for video and 12 for music but depend on the kind of batteries you use. Microsoft says that other OEM’s are joining Creative on this new mobile media bandwagon and by Christmas 2003,it may be possible to get your MTV and more to go. Of course, you first have to record it and download it and then store it on the device.

POSSIBLE VIDEO iPOD PREDICTION:

Microsoft is not first in this category though since other

MPEG-4 video playback systems are already on the market. Archos range of products now features 20 GB multimedia player that handles DIVX and MPEG-4 video playback and Korea’s Impactra device is already built on a Windows CE platform and a popular choice in Asia. Some Apple fans surveyed maintain that a Video iPOD device may launch this summer, Microsoft had no comment on that possibility. Be on the watch for other international companies like GoConnect Ltd (GCN), an Australian start-up who promises to launch interactive video subscription services for Pocket PC phones to the mobile industry within the next quarter.

INTERIM TV TO GO OPTIONS:

Until the new media playback devices and multimedia phones hit the shelves, consumers can get TV TO GO using interim options. Audio fans can listen to many of their favorite network and cable channels such as CNN and MTV on satellite radio systems in their cars or in new home versions of Sirius or XM Satellite radio systems. Pocket PC and Palm PDA owners can turn to websites such as www.Mazingo.net to download broadcast content to their devices and feature programming from Fox Sports, The Weather Channel, NBC and more. There are more than 600 choices offered under the Mazingo subscription service that you can begin to download today. Laptop lovers will find it easier than ever to find wireless connectivity on-the-go as such fast food majors such as McDonalds partner with carriers to offer Wi-Fi hotspots to link to the net where you can catch up with network and cable offerings from broadcasters like ABC.com and CNN.com. (BLOGGER NOTE MAZINGO DIDN"T MAKE IT TO THE NEXT STAGE AND IS NOW DEFUNCT)

TV To Go is here today, but soon it may be everywhere bringing up the challenge of whether users will want more “on-demand” programming versus appointment television. 

Joyce A. Schwarz is an author and emerging entertainment analyst/consultant who heads JCOM, www.joycecom.com. in Marina Del Rey, California. She is the author of CUTTING THE CORD: TECH TV'S GUIDE TO GOING WIRELESS, Macmillan Publishing and several other books including MULTIMEDIA: GATEWAY TO THE NEXT MILLENNIUM (HARCOURT BRACE).

SEX INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE BOX : NY TIMES REPORTER AT AVN

SEX INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE BOX ......take a look at the previous post in this blog and see if you don't agree that NY TIMES reporter Seth Scheisel who I met at Internext, Las Vegas 2006 may just have some ideas of how you can use your Yamaha private gaming room! Here's a link to his article titled "Seeking True Marriage of Sex and the Xbox Factor"

(LINK HERE) Seeking True Marriage of Sex and the Xbox Factor
New York Times, United States - Jan 13, 2006
By SETH SCHIESEL. I went to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week for two main reasons: to speak on a panel about ...The rest of the show didn't have a lot of video-game content. And so, faced with two more days before my flight out, I went looking for what so many have sought in Sin City: sex. And that's because gadget geeks aren't the only folks who have their major annual get-together in Las Vegas during the first week of January. Quite symbiotically, it seems, the multibillion-dollar sex entertainment industry stages the flashy Adult Video News Adult Entertainment Expo at the same time.....

BLOGGER NOTE ....in his article Seth refers to the HOT COFFEE controversy which we covered extensively in HOLLYWOOD2020 last year -- here are the links to those postings which was picked up all over-- even on PORN sites of course !!!

Hot coffee.GTA snafu still steaming , see the full photo with google search for HOT COFFEE GTA!

Hollywood2020: HOT COFFEE STEAMS UP GTA VID GAME BREW HAHA
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GRAND CANYON TRIP -- REAL or REEL....REPLAYING EXPERIENCES

GRAND CANYON HOLIDAY TRIP -- REAL or REEL? Once upon a time, when I was a little girl back in Cleveland, getting ready for a vacation meant that you made sure you had film in the camera and that you had enough Polaroid film with you to take pictures of the highlights that you could treasure on the way home.  Our family didn't have a movie camera or a video camera so my life and vacations are chronicled in still photos and fading Polaroids of various consistency depending on what year the Polaroids were taken and what Polaroid camera was used. Decades later, a trip to the Grand Canyon over the holidays made me realize that life is now more reel than real.

Hollywood2020 Blogger Joyce Schwarz at the Grand Canyon over the holidays-- are vacations today more "reel' than 'real' that's the subject of her blog on January 15, 2006 at www.hollywood2020.blogs.com 

WHY MORE REEL THAN REAL? 

Ahead of time, I sent for a DVD from the Arizona tourism association but it didn't prepare me for the vastness of the Grand Canyon nor the experience on the great Grand Canyon Railroad. Digital cameras capture the essence of what's happening and are ready for viewing and reviewing instantaneously -- faster than a Polaroid-- yet there remains the biggest challenges -- printing out the photos along the way. Sure you can carry a small printer with you or you can go to the local Photo service or Drugstore photo service and download to a DVD or get prints in as little as an hour -- as long as you're in a big city or there are not 100 vacationers in front of you trying to do the same thing. Kodak and Sony kiosks are sprouting up everywhere-- but once again you have to be in a city where they are available. No such service at the Grand Canyon National Park.

But here are my reasons I think that vacations and experiences are increasingly becoming more "reel" than "real".

Inside view of the Grand Canyon Train -- what an experience in stepping back in time. A real experience caught on reel of course!

Banjo player on the Grand Canyon railway -- taking you really back in time!

WHY VACATIONS ARE MORE REEL THAN REAL TODAY......

1) Television -- especially PBS and the Travel Channel and National Geographic Channel make us feel like we've been everywhere. Yet, when I looked at the Grand Canyon I had no idea that the walls of it were pastel shades ranging from pinks to blues to outrageous mixtures beyond any photo I had seen before.

2) Screens are everywhere -- in museums, in visitor centers, in tour operator offices and of course in our cars and vans. On the way to Grand Canyon -- our tour van operator plays a DVD of the Grand Canyon so we can see what a Mule trip is like-- alas, we're not taking the mule trip. BUT we are signed up for the Grand Canyon Train -- no reel experiences of that before some of us get dropped off for the real experience.

3) Cameras are ubiquitous -- cell phones are used more for photos than for calls it seems on the road. I'm still not a cell phone camera freak. I prefer my HP Digital Camera. And if I had better way to display my video camera streams I would carry that with me. Everyone else seems more interested in recording the experiences via their cell or their multiple cameras -- I saw one husband and wife at the Grand Canyon with 4-5 cameras each wrapped around their heads and arms -- I don't think they ever looked at the Grand Canyon with their own eyes-- only through the lens of one of the many cameras.  Real is still best in my book. And reel is for remembering.

4) Phones ring everywhere-- phones ring, buzz, vibrate and zap out tunes from 50 Cents to old Rolling Stones tunes everywhere....people around you think nothing of breaking into your reality with their instructions for how to use a computer to an office pal back in New York or sweet nothings to their lover in Paris --even at the Grand Canyon. No one seems to be present. The reel is just more real than the real.

5) DVD and Laptops and iPods take you away from the present-- Have you noticed that the kids using DVDs and the execs using laptops and the teens using iPods never seem to leave home or the office -- they are connected by the reel to their real beyond the real of NOW -- the little girl from Montreal on our tour was quiet as a mouse but she was watching a portable DVD most of the time --several glances and I couldn't figure it out -- Jim Carrey doing something reel --not looking out at the real trip through the mountains. And when she was 'filming the real' with her reel camera she seemed more concerned about the settings than the scenery.

5) DO-OVER -- on the way back from the Grand Canyon our tour van was treated to the movie with Billy Crystal CITY SLICKERS and I thought about his comment in the film that you don't get a chance to "do-over" your life. So why is so much of our time spent in the reel world versus the real world? Which brings me to number 6

6) Simulated experiences -- Had I remembered about the mule trip in advance I might have signed up for that -- I had seen it once when Bill O'Reilly described his vacation earlier this year in USA TODAY -- but had forgotten about it until we got to Arizona. Now I want to simulate my whole vacation again....experience the banjo on the train, drink that spicey Bloody Mary, chat with the Brits across the aisle. Pick up the brochure on the Polar Express version of the Grand Canyon Railway experience for next holiday season and more. So how do I do that-- today it's still a disparate set of real options to capture the reel world. Flickr -- sure I could post my cell phone pix, Kodak.com -- sure I'll put up my digital pix in an album. Video-- I didn't take a camera but I'm sure digital video is around of the experiences I had somewhere on the web-- but how do I find them. Audio -- like to hear that Scottish lad giving our tour once more. Wish I had gotten in more of my photos. I want that "DO-OVER" Billy Crystal says is impossible to find-- I want to play it again Sam .....and in the next couple of months I'm sure it will be possible as I explore how to simulate real expereinces with reel tools. Happy New Year and I promise not to be gone so long again!!. Joyce Schwarz, January 15, 2006

SIGGRAPH'05 ART GALLERY RETROSPECTIVE: IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS, VIRTUAL WORLDS

SIGGRAPH '05 ART GALLERY: THEME: "THEADING TIME" where the virtual becomes real and the real is a scene in 2D, 3D and simulation.   Hauntingly, one month after the Siggraph'05 Art gallery and emerging tech demos, displays and venue at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the chimerical experience remains just that -- imaginary, unreal and visionary...click on the thumnail here from the opening page of the Siggraph'05 art gallery online exhibition. Here's another tribute from this blogger Joyce Schwarz to the art Gallery Committee Linda Lauro-Lazin, Art Gallery Chair, Pratt Institute, the juries, the subcommittees and of course, the artists.

The theme this year was "Threading Time":

"I imagine a labrynith of labryniths, a sinuous spreading path that would contain both past and future and somehow imply the stars" Jorge Luis Borges, "The Garden of Forking Paths".

Borges is the Argentinian writer, poet, essayist for more info go toThe Modern Word: The Garden of Forking Paths --"The Garden of Forking Paths" was his first book.

Siggraph art gallery 05: threading time....digital artwork that maps or traces threads through time and space. Six world-renowned artists were invited to exhibit their works in the SIGGRAPH 2005 Art Gallery in addition to the featured juried works.

FROM THE CEREBRAL TO THE VISCERAL:

In advance of the show, Linda Lauro-Lazin, chair said: "The SIGGRAPH 2005 Art Gallery: Threading Time showcases digital artwork from the cerebral to the visceral. The artists examine the passage of time and the marking of space in their work: some lingering, some looping, some humorous, some perennial. All of the work will engage the audience's perceptions of time and place."

BEYOND TIME AND SPACE:

The SIGGRAPH 2005 Art Gallery is collaborated with the SIGGRAPH 2005 Computer Animation Festival, Emerging Technologies, Sketches, Access Grid, and Web Programs to provide artists with a wider forum to speak and exhibit their work.

External Measures Untitled 5, Camille Utterback

Untitled 5 is an interactive art installation. Vaguely Asian and abstract in form an dpresentation it is exactly what the press releae promised "painterly, organic, and evocative while also remaining completely algorithmic". Viewer/visitor (for you cannot just be a viewer) participation (i.e. jumping up and down, raising your hands, moving in front of the presentation) encourages change which according to PR materials is called "kinesthetic exploration-- a visceral sense of unfolding or revelation = as a feeling of immediacy and loss. Somehow capturing the 'design' of brief fleeting moments --almost like a smile for happiness or a grimace for anger: Quicktime Documentation (16 mb, 320x240) Quicktime Documentation (5.5 mb, 160x120)From the artist website at www.camilleutterback.com.

Jim Campbell ,Ambigous Icons series

What you see is LEDs (light emitting diodes) on which figures move through space. Almost seamlessly passing through analog and digital worlds.

Campbells LED panels hang like wall paintings.

On the artist site he says "Ambiguous Icons explore the relationship between information and meaning, in the context of reduced or compressed levels of information. These works incorporate the fairly new technology: Red-Green-Blue LEDs allowing each LED to be any color." link to Campbell

ENGINEER/ARTIST -- MIT GRAD, VIDEO-IMAGE PATENT HOLDER & HDTV.

According to an article on Wired.com Campbell is a leading figure in exploring computer technology as an art form. An MIT graduate with dual degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, Campbell also holds more than a dozen patents on video-image processing, and standard-definition and high-definition television. In the Wired 2004 profile they said he was still working a 'day job' in Silicon Valley :"Campbell still works part time for Genesis Microchip (formerly Sage Electronics), a Silicon Valley image-processing company. He is one of the few new-media artists who designs his own circuit boards."

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WHAT COLOR HAIR WILL JENNIFER GARNER BABY HAVE ON ABC'S TV ALIAS SHOW ---Sydney's 'PREGGIE" too

CLICK ON THUMBNAIL PHOTO OF COVER OF DVD ALIAS TV SHOW FROM ABC TO SEE JUST SOME OF THE COLORS OF HAIR AND STYLES JENNIFER GARNER SPORTS AS HER CHARACTER SYDNEY BRISTOW ON ALIAS, ABC'S HIT.

WHAT COLOR WILL JENNIFER GARNER'S HAIR BE THIS SEASON? HER CHARACTER SYDNEY BRISTOW IS PREGNANT TOO....what color will the babies hair be?? On air and off??? Maybe you can find out via your mobile phone now...!

yes, hot news....ALIAS lead gorgeous actress Jennifer Garner, now pregnant in real life, will be expecting on-screen this fall as the new ALIAS TV series hits the screen on Thursday (note new day) at 8 p.m. on ABC for it's 5th Season (wow, I can remember when it premiered --seemed like only my brother Frank and I were big fans in our respective crowds from the onset--but most of America and International fans caught on quickly. So I figure the hottest question for the season is what color hair will Jennifer's real life baby have and what color will Sydney Bristow's baby have-- it's kind of an insider question for those of you who may have never caught the show -- Sydney changes hair styles and hair color faster than you can watch the next commercial....red, blond, black, purple and of course the trademark rouge color. Did you know at the Alias booksigning in Los Angeles they even gave away the brilliant red/rouge color wigs to promo the show....hmmm how did I miss that?

Jennifer Garner in just some of her ALIAS TV show disguises and hair colors/styles from previous seasons.

ALIAS IS ALWAYS HAIR-RAISING....see some more styles...

always hair-raising Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow on ALIAS -- now Sydney's pregnant too....

NEW TECHNOLOGY FROM PROTEUS ENABLES YOU TO DOWNLOAD SYDNEY AND HER HAIR STYLES:

"Alias" fans can download 20 images from the show to their phones for $1.99 each -- most showcasing the evolving hairstyles of star Jennifer Garner. How's it possible?  ABC announces today that they are teaming with Proteus, a leading provider of mobile content leading provider of mobile mobile phone to offer ring tones, images and more from leading ABC network shows. According to reports, Proteus will run a new online store where fans of ABC shows including soap operas such as "All My Children," the action series "Alias" and late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will be able to download custom ring tones and images to their cell phones.

Other Proteus/ABC deal highlights include:

* "All My Children" fans will be able to memorialize a scene in which wealthy conniver JR Chandler confronts his stepfather, Tad, whenever they open their phone.

*THEME SONGS NOW RING TONES: Fans can also buy the theme songs of featured shows as ring tones at the site.

Possible new downloadable content products for mobiles include:

Text message show previews -- (blogger note-- did you know that one of the top selling services in Japan are text message previews of what's on the outrageous "Jerry Springer" TV show??

Recaps or behind-the-scenes news  ( What this blogger wants are repeats of the last 2 minutes of shows, games/sporting events etc-- seems like that's what I miss because I'm always multi-tasking...

Answering service messages -- featuring tracks from TV series

PROTEUS ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK -- during the 2002 Super Bowl,  Proteus was picked to run polls and quizzes during the game. Football fans could participate in them via their cell phones. Read more about this fabulous Proteus innovation and other interactive television and mobile content early deals in this blogger's book "CUTTING THE CORD: TECH TV'S GUIDE TO GOING WIRELESS" available on Amazon.com.

Blogger Joyce Schwarz featured Proteus' Armchair Quarterback venture back in 2002 in her book CUTTING THE CORD -- see info and go to Amazon.com to order the book or read a free chapter.

RING TONES ARE HOT THIS SUMMER:

Seattle research firm M:Metrics found that 9.56 percent of mobile phone subscribers downloaded a ring tone in June, a total of 17.3 million downloads. In a "Washington Post" report, Proteus co-founder Timothy Shey said he was excited to expand the potential market for his company's products and reach more female customers .

MORE MALE RINGTONE BUYERS THAN FEMALES?

Some experts say that more males than females buy ringtones and downloadable content. . In the past, Proteus has frequently offered ring tones, screen savers and games some consider tied to more male-oriented content, such as sporting events or TV shows such as HBO's mob series "The Sopranos."

ABC MOBILE STORE --- for soap fans too...

With an "ABC Mobile Store" promoting downloads from shows such as "General Hospital" and "One Life to Live," Proteus hopes to reach more female customers."ABC has the power to put that [Web address] everywhere," Shey said. "We want to reach a mainstream audience."

. For a monthly fee, for example, fans might be able to get regular text messages with previews, recaps or behind-the-scenes news from their favorite ABC shows. A joke-of-the-day from late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is another possibility ABC and Proteus are considering.

KIDNAPPER RINGBACK?

One proposed "ringback" script, which has not yet been recorded, would feature the voice of "One Life to Live" actor Michael Easton in his role as police detective John McBain:"If you're the kidnapper, the money's on the way. Everyone else, please leave a message and be sure to leave a number."

Proteus is no stranger to working with the networks. In May, the company announced it was helping to facilitate a wireless-based sweepstakes for the FOX television hit "Nanny 911." In February, the company announced a deal with Fox Sports en Español, Fox Sports Latin America to launch Fox Sports Copa Móvil, a suite of mobile products and services based on the soccer club Copa Libertadores. 

Bruce Gersh, the senior VP of business development for ABC says "The new suite of ABC mobile products we are developing with Proteus will provide innovative ways to deliver show-related mobile content."

ABC SHORT CODE: 22288 (ABCTV)

GO TO: www.abc.com/mobile  to see more info on the mobile content. Mobile users can also order via a new "short code" -- a sequence of numbers you text in to your phone using text messaging services available from your carrier -- note most phones are text-enabled at this point. ABC's text messaging short code is 22288 (ABCTV)

MORE REVENUE/REPURPOSE CONTENT --

carry Jennifer Garner around 24/7

"Through our partnership, ABC is able to quickly deliver a broad range of content directly to fans of ABC shows, creating a new revenue opportunity and furthering audience loyalty," said Ken Krushel, chief executive officer of Proteus.

MORE ALIAS GOSSIP AND TRIVIA:

As long as I was researching this new Hollywood cross-platform mobile/TV deal, I thought I'd check out the latest gossip and trivia about Jennifer Garner and of course one of my favorite series (if you haven't guessed that already) ALIAS...Here's what I found-- know something new-- then just email me at [email protected] or add it to the comments section of this blog.

New names for "Alias"

French actress Elodie Bouchez is the latest addition to the cast of the hit ABC spy drama "Alias." Bouchez will portray an internationally wanted criminal who, unbeknownst to Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), has been secretly working with fellow CIA agent Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan) for several years. YES, VAUGHN IS BACK ON ALIAS -- despite rumors it looks like Vartan is back as Vaughn Sydney is expecting a baby too so her "Alias" character will be too, even though she's a globe-trotting spy. "We are going to embrace the fact that she's pregnant," ABC programming chief Stephen McPherson said, referring to the character, Sydney Bristow. But the show will focus on making the situation realistic and not "campy," he said."We also don't want to put her in situations where she's endangering herself and the baby," making it difficult for viewers to suspend disbelief, he said. JENNIFER (BENNIFER .1) baby is due around Xmas: Garner, 33, and Ben Affleck, 32, her co-star in the 2003 movie "Daredevil," wed in June. Their baby is due around Christmas, MORE GOSSIP -- CHECK OUT THE ALIAS NOVEL She's young. She's beautiful. And her Russian is off the charts. Sydney is the perfect choice for a deep cover infiltration inside K-Directorate. A high-stakes mission of sabotage where there's no turning back. Extraction becomes impossible. And a rivalry like no other is born. Author Brian Frazier is a freelance writer currently working on Alias He also wrote the Alias video game. . HOT GARNER NEWS FROM: emalefirstco.uk Pregnant actress JENNIFER GARNER is being urged to slow down - by her ex-boyfriend MICHAEL VARTAN. RUMORS SAY: agent VAUGHN is the onscreen daddy to SYDNEYs baby-to-be. ANOTHER NEW CHARACTER .... Rachel Nichols cast as a technical analyst for a black ops division of the CIA mentored by Garner's character.

BIKINIS,BULLS & GILLEYS LAS VEGAS -- RIDING THE BULL BAREBACK

BABES IN BIKINIS ON GILLEY'S MECHANICAL BULL

RIDING THE BULL BAREBACK....on-location Gilley's Las Vegas Cached --- ladies nite at Gilley's at the New Frontier Las Vegas.....quick one-day vacation break for this blogger Joyce Schwarz, Hollywood2020.blogs.com in Vegas after the VSDA (Video Software Dealers Assn. Show) where I met lots of stars-- saw some kewl new DVD stuff and lots of micro-merchandising. Think ATM machines turned into DVD downloads or PSP downloads-- more on that later. But at 1:10 a.m. Las Vegas, Nevada time, I'm sure you want to know more about Gilley's Las Vegas Bikini Bull RIding contest....don't you???

World Famous Gilley's at the New Frontier Hotel ...

Gilley's Bikini Bull-riding Contest --- what a trip--- totally awesome -- Gilley's is packed to the rafters...the Gilley's gal is awesome -- the one selling or should I say demonstrating Gilley's brand beer. David at the bar in his Jack Daniel's shirt is a handsome addition to the crew.

But on to the Bikini Bull Riding--- the guys running the contest got impatient with me checking on When IT was happening-- I think they either thought this blogger was a Lesbian or a Nut -- alas, neither....I was just anxious to post....

BIKINIS AND THE BULL......

Sooo -- here's the scoop --- about 5 gals get up there on that mechanical bull and strut their stuff...the winner tonight was a newcomer -- gorgeous gal. Alas, she has no website but some of the others such as a contestant and regular named Bunny can be seen on Cached Carmen Tomco tied for third -- and she's a local schoolteacher -- word at Gilley's was "I never saw a third grade teacher like her" -- of course you regular readers know that my third grade teacher at St. Thomas Moore was Miss Dunne who got married during the semester and became Mrs Young...she changed my life -- taught me French--- made me do a report on going to Rio De Janiero -- and more....kudos to her...

NO CAMERAS ALLOWED...at Gilley's

Yep sorry, no cameras allowed and they were even confisgating the mobile phones with cameras...alas, I forgot my phone in Los Angeles-- brought the charger but no phone -- figure that was a Freudian attempt to disconnect from the world..but could not resist blogging about Gilley's. Let me see if I can grab some photos online from Gilley's Las Vegas and provide you more info on these gorgeous and yes, BRAVE gals...who challenged that mechanical bull tonight...hold on and I'll check Google and my favorite search directory Icerocket.com. Be right back. OKAY AT LEAST ONE IMAGE

and from icerocket.com

Mickey Gilley   Official site. Includes biography, links to the artist's theaters in Branson, products, and photographs. www.gilleys.com

LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND MORE FOR YOU....

Click on thumbnail-- hopefully it will take you to the website that shows the girls in bikinis on the bull... columnist Dave Barry's blog--- he can tell it better than me-- bikini's & bulls -- what a combo check out lasvegasadvisor.com for more info & more photos can't get there tonight-- then take a virtual tour at: Frontier, Frontier Las Vegas, ...

SPILLING MORE OF THE BEANS ABOUT THE GTA HOT COFFEE PORN SCANDAL: UPDATE

GTA Hot Coffee Boiling Over into Worldwide Controversy and cultural changes? (first of 2 part post)

On July 11 this blog Hollywood2020.blogs.com author Joyce Schwarz set the table (I mean the stage) for a quick recap on what was happening with the Grand Theft Auto videogame controversy about whether Porn segments were actually in the game when sold or part of a "Mod" called Hot Coffee available online. See details in previous blog: HOT COFFEE STEAMS UP GTA VID GAME BREW HAHA.  We also asked the rhetorical question of whether Interactive Porn was the new 21st Century mass cultural activity of choice as first penned in the blog THE REPTILIAN BRAIN (for full post click here):

TGS Hiddenmysteries Reptilian Agenda

Time to spill the beans on GTA Hot Coffee Porn Scandal....stirring up the pot that calls the kettle black...boiling up a cauldron of TROUBLE......now a quick update -- if you missed any of this scandal that now involves top leaders of the Western World including but not limited to this unspooling of a thread of trouble:

FROM SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON ---  GTA stealing innocence of children....

Senator Hillary Clinton who earlier this year was quoted as saying: there is a "silent epidemic of media desensitisation that teaches kids it's okay to diss people because they are a woman, they're a different colour or they're from a different place." Recently update: "The disturbing material in 'Grand Theft Auto' and other games like it is stealing the innocence of our children, and it's making the difficult job of being a parent even harder," Clinton said.

CLINTON JOINS SENATOR LIEBERMAN: Clinton joined Senator Joseph Lieberman, who together called for action from either the game's maker or the government....to --->Lieberman who called for action: "I am asking you to bring this matter to light and resolve this serious controversy by voluntarily submitting your game to independent concerned and responsible parties for such technical analysis," Lieberman

CLINTON TO FTC calling for legislationhas asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. The proposed legislation would see retailers fined $5000 for selling violent and sexually explicit videogames to minors.
----------------> Miami Attorney Jack Thompson who made numerous comments including: "Rockstar is on the fast track to corporate destruction, all because they have decided to play chicken with the federal government," said Mr Thompson. And then Thompson reportedly (according to Prodigious Gaming Blog (see link later in this post) :

THOMPSON TO Entertainment Software Assn Members in open letter (reported on Prodigious Gaming Blog:

Thompson also wrote an open letter addressed to ESA members where he accused the association of failing to act quickly enough on the "Hot Coffee" mod. The letter was nothing more than an attack on the Entertainment Software Association and its president, Doug Lowenstein. Among other things, Thompson likened Lowenstein to Hitler, writing:"When Hitler invaded Russia, opening up an Eastern offensive on the eve of winter, Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill noted that 'Hitler must have been rather loosely educated, not having learned the lesson of Napoleon's autumn advance on Moscow."

JOYSTIQ.com links to more on hot coffee spillover......

Links from Joystiq.com to Prodigious Games blog and other crucial links in this thread of "trouble"More on Hot Coffee:
Clinton joins GTA ‘Hot Coffee’ debacle
San Andreas sex hack found in PS2 game, UK version not affected by controversy
San Andreas sex scandal spreads down under

TO HOUSE VOTES FOR INVESTIGATION..MODDERS HIT BACK TO ATTACK ON SIMS;
START OF "SIMGATE"?

...courtesy www.icerocket.com Jul 25, 2005)

Censors move From Hot Coffeegate to Simsgate … (Jul 25, 2005) Inquirer

Florida Attorney Jack Thompson Attacks EA, Sims 2 …

Modders Hit back at ESRB

Patrick Wildenborg, the modder who first publicized GTA's Hot Coffee minigame hack, sent along to 1UP a letter from the administration of GTAgarage.com, the …

(Jul 25, 2005) 1Up

Rockstar To Be Investigated? Amid the 'Hot Coffee' controversy, the House votes in favor of a Federal Trade Commission (Jul 25, 2005) cont'd next post (on top of this post)

HOT COFFEE STEAMS UP GTA VID GAME BREW HAHA

IS INTERACTIVE PORN 21st CENTURY MASS CULTURAL ACTIVITY OF CHOICE? click on thumbnail to see opening of Jonathan Leaf's post on his blog THE REPTILIAN BRAIN on interactive porn as possible great mass cultural activity for 21st Century.

iNTERACTIVE PORN: REPLACING MOVIES AS MASS CULTURAL ACTIVITY OF CHOICE?

In one of our favorite new search engines www.ICEROCKET.com we found a link to a fascinating post by Jonathan Leaf questioning what will the mass cultural activity of choice for the 21st century. How did we get to Leaf's post-- by searching for more on HOT COFFEE of course-- the "MOD" of GTA (Grand Theft Auto video game). See www.gtagarage.com for details  This blogger especially likes Icerocket because it provides screen grabs of the sites you are searching along with a choice of news, web, blogs, mobile phone photos and more. A great way to keep track of what's happening by the week. And quick peek into culture. Which brings us back to Leaf's post which makes these notes:

WHAT WILL BE THE GREAT MASS CULTURAL ACTIVITY OF THE 21ST CENTURY?

*iN THE 13TH CENTURY IT WAS CATHEDRAL BUILDING....

*iN THE 17TH CENTURY IT WAS THEATRE.

*iN THE 18TH CENTURY IT WAS OPERA

*IN THE 19TH CENTURY IT WAS FILM

For the full post go to:

TGS Hiddenmysteries Reptilian Agenda

BOINGBOING.com -- popular blog BoingBoing.com was among the first of the blogs to discuss the subject and give links to actual photos/videos and screen schots of the HOT COFFEE -- note these links are XXX rated.

Boing Boing: GTA: San Andreas Sex Hack said to be ...

CLICK ON THUMBNAIL (above) TO SEE BOINGBOING FIRST POSTS ABOUT GTA HOT COFFEE AND THEN CLICK ON SECOND THUMBNAIL (here) TO SEE PARTIAL VIEW OF XXX RATED HOT COFFEE SCREENSHOT -- MUCH TOO HOT FOR THIS BLOGGER TO PUT IN HER BLOG......wow first the CRAZY FROG GREW A THIRD LEG AND NOW THIS........let's see what ESRB (the rating board) says about all of this.

California Legislator investigating...Gamespot report execs say Porn not in original game 7/11/05

At post time 1:55 a.m. Monday, July 11, a California legislator was investigating and on Friday, Rockstar (developer of GTA) reported to GAMESPOT.com that the porn was not in the original game, implyling it was part of the "MOD"  (game modification). More on this as later.....

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BLOGSHARES.COM SETS VALUE OF HOLLYLWOOD2020 BLOG @ $366.67 -- FUTURE VALUE...SELLING THE FUTURE OF CYBERSPACE REAL ESTATE AND VIRTUAL BRANDS ....take a look --this blogger Joyce Schwarz, founder Hollywood2020 is excited to see that her blog is now at a value of $366.67 share (projected future value) at the fun site Blogshares.com (link)

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Got questions?Use the Help System Bored this weekend-- then try the Blogshares.com new contest -- here are the details...

Island Dave Forum Administrator Online Posts: 1643 BlogShares Administrator View Profile WWW

BlogShares Tutorials Wanted: Blogging Contest #5  « on: June 20, 2005, 11:47:34 pm » Blogging Contest #5:  Tutorials Think you've gotten down a great game strategy?  Would you like to help new players earn more money?  Ideas, shares, bonds, or voting, there's a player out there who wants to read your speciality.  This contest asks players to write tutorials on any game strategy.  Pick the subject, just make it as clear and carefully written as possible. Winning entries will be linked in a new node in the Help System, tenatively titled Player Tutorials. To enter, players must make an original post to their own blog.  Existing tutorials can be entered by their current owners, posts do not have to be made after this announcement, so long as the strategies and game math discussed in the post is still accurate (they may also be edited to make them more accurate).  Leave a link to the post in this thread, and be sure your user id # is included in the post.  There are no set number of winning entries, but because we want to link to the most accurate, useful, and thorough tutorials on each subject, only the very best will be selected.  Graphs, charts, screenshots, and well-linked and supported information will play heavily in a blogger's favor. The deadline of entry for this contest is July 31, 2005. I haven't settled on a prize pool yet, but if you've seen the prizes in all the other blogging contests, you've seen that they aren't too shabby.  There will be lots of incentive to finish well * All entrants grant BlogShares permission to link to his/her tutorial via a Help node (as well as the right to remove such a link).

WI-FI GAMBLING LAN RUSH: LAS VEGAS GOV. KENNY GUINN APPROVES WIRELESS PGD'S PERSONAL GAMING DEVICES IN CASINOS

LAS VEGAS GOVERNOR KENNY GUINN APPROVES PGD'S: WIRELESS PERSONAL GAMING DEVICES IN CASINOS

Mobile gaming is coming to Las Vegas --the wireless wheeler & dealers are abuzz with this week's legislative developments that puts Nevada on way to becoming the first state to allow wireless gambling.

The news opens the way to concern within the gaming industry on whether the new wireless systems could be competition and focuses controversy on where gambling should take place in the U.S.

Wi-Fi GAMBLING LAN RUSH:

Click on JPEG to see interface for one of the games on Diamond I's handheld Wi-Fi Casino OS. Diamond I is one of three firms backing Las Vegas mobile gambling legislation.

MOBILE GAMGLING IS BIG NEWS & BIGGER BUSINESS

Even before this latest gaming news, Mobile Gambling worldwide forecasts already project an astounding $19.3 Billion in receipts worldwide by 2009 (see the Juniper Research report excerpt in this post for details). According to RED HERRING (Cached) that $20 billion is approximately 1/3 of the total mobile entertainment revenues projected worldwide for 2009.                               

$19.3 Billion Forecast for Mobile Gambling by 2009

Hollywood2020's blog founder Joyce Schwarz notes that a recent (March, 2005) Jupiter report notes that a rapid proliferation of mobile casinos, lotteries and sports betting services should see gross revenues from mobile gambling mushroom to more than US $19.3bn by 2009, The report reveals that lotteries will be the largest money-spinners, with gross revenues of nearly US $7.9bn worldwide by 2009, followed by sports betting (US$6.9bn) and casino-style gaming (US$4.5bn).   Source: JuniperResearch.com.                                   ______________________________

LOWDOWN ON VEGAS LEGISLATION

Las Vegas Governor Kenny Guinn signed AB471 on Weds. Note that the law is not carte blanche to wireless gambling everywhere in the state. Rather, the legislation allows gambling in public locations at resorts (that have 100 or more slot machiens and offer at least one other game) and not in hotel rooms or other private areas. Right now news sources are projecting that gambling will be via proprietary handheld devices being termed by some pundits as PGD's (personal gaming devices). How the initiative will be structured and roll-out will depend on state regulations.

MOBILE GAMING SAFEGUARDS

Next step is for regulators to make judgments on mobile gaming safeguards. The hottest topics in gaming trades and in press reports this week include: restricting the areas where it will be used, preventing minors from using it and protecting the system from hackers. The Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission need to draft regulations on mobile gaming before the wireless devices can be used to play in local casinos. It's estimated that it will take several months to a year for adoption of rules implementing AB471.

THREE FIRMS BACK MOBILE GAMING LEGISLATION

Latest news reports say that the bill was initiated by Cantor G&W (Nevada) LP an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald LP, the NY based financial services company. According to an AP article 6/2/05 LAS VEGAS SUN, Cantor says an adaptation of its interactive bond-trading technology will work for casino gambling. The legistlaton was opposed by only one of the state's 63 legislators. Also supporting the bill were two other firms who could benefit by the legislation Louisiana-based Diamond I Inc. (which has already developed its own device called Wi-Fi Casino) and Reno-based International Game Technology, the world's largest manufacturer of slot machines.

Ushering in the Video Game Generation:

In a quote in the LAS VEGAS SUN, Joe Asher, managing director of Cantor G&W says, "People have become more and more comfortable with technology....An entire generation or two have grown up with video games or mobile devices and they are in our view likely to appreciate the ability to play without being restricted to the physical onfines of the gaming area in the casino."

A Casino In the Palm Of Your Hand:

Note, wireless services are already being used in casinos in Vegas for such deployments as letting poker player's know when seats are available at tables at the new Wynn casino.

FOOD,DRINKS, GAMES PGD MULTIPLIERS

The impact of the mobile gaming devices will not be just on gambling revenues. In my 5/24/05 Hollywood 2020 post on Diamond I's Wi-Fi Casino. I note that a big multiplier to the gambling revenues is the ability to order food, drinks, show tickets and play games and other entertainment on the devices.

WIRELESS LAS VEGAS LAN RUSH IS ON:

Add to that advertising revenues or should I say, precede that by the potential for major brand sponsorships like Coke, liquor companies and yes, possibly even cigarette firms (no regulation on these closed-circuit type devices) and you see why every wheeler-dealer is heading to Vegas to strike gold in the new "Wireless LAN" rush.

For more info on the Diamond I technology see Hollywood 2020 post on 5/24/05 "Betting on New Palm Casinos" Cached  NOTE, the Diamond I website was down when I tried to link to it when writing this post on Sunday afternoon.