Renowned company, Apple plan to announce their intentions to make certain improvisations to iTunes as well as introduce a brand new line of devices for the famous iPod Touch later today.

In response to this move, Sony will now unveil their service for a brand new music and video subscription service, at a conference in Berlin commencing today.

Reports say that this service (subject to subscription) that kicks off next year will be targeted to the millions of PS3 existing owners around the world. If this tickles your fancy you are definitely going to like what’s coming next. They will follow this up by extending this service to various other devices such as cell phones, computers, portable music players as well as DVD players. Guess Apple won’t have a secured front-runner place after all.

Before 2008, Sony was at the pinnacle in the digital music industry. But after its downslide, iTunes concreted their position as the leaders in the market. However, Sony’s vengeful comeback is surely a one to watch out for as they will also rope in other famous record label companies besides their own.

With Apple and Sony refreshing their past clash, we might just be in for a treat from either side!

After having given an ultimatum to the BlackBerry maker- Research In Motion to make its decryption code available to the security agencies. Now the Indian government has asked Google, Skype and some other companies providing communications services in the nation to make similar provisions.

As of now there is no information on any date for issuing a notice to these companies. This development comes after two days the government announced an extended time frame of 60 days for Research In Motion to try out the provisions that they had proposed in regards to giving access to the Indian security agencies.

BlackBerry was given a deadline till Aug. 31 to either provide access to its decryption data or pack their bags, after which RIM came up with certain proposals to avoid losing a one million market.

Earlier, this week the Ministry of Home Affairs said that all telecommunications services should make their communication data accessible to the intelligence agencies; failing to which there will be a ban on such services.

Media analysts predicted a move by the government against Google and Skype last month. Although there is no official confirmation, it is very likely to be true that Google and Skype will have to answer the home ministry as the ministry is in no mood to lax security in the country considering the fact that India is under the constant radar of terrorists.

In a meeting held by the Department of Telecommunications in August, there were talks of asking other online services besides RIM to provide access to India’s security agencies. The authorities want to intercept every mobile and online communications as terrorists are increasingly using mobile phones, instant messaging, and e-mails to plan attacks.

Under the country’s law, telecommunications service providers have to provide the law enforcement agencies with access to all communications on their networks. Right now analysts predict that it is Google’s Gmail and Skype’s Internet telephony service that is under the government radar.

A spokeswoman from Google India said that the internet giant has not received any such notice from the law enforcement agencies, and the company will respond only if there is an official word from the authorities.

We still have to wait and see where the fate of these internet providers lies.

Social networking website MySpace synced its services with archrival Facebook, allowing MySpace users to share content with their friends on Facebook. This move doesn’t come as a surprise for many media analysts as MySpace’s popularity is drooping day by day while Facebook is surging ahead.

On Aug. 30 MySpace, owned by News Corp., unveiled that its users would be able to share music, photos, videos and links on Facebook. After a user syncs the accounts of both the sites, MySpace updates will appear on the pages of Facebook friends. However, this is just one way traffic as Facebook pages cannot be synced with MySpace. Well it’s very obvious that Facebook doesn’t need any such obligation from other social media sites as it is now sitting on the social media throne!

The MySpace users can click on the settings box in the update module of their home page, check the Facebook box, and then follow the steps to sync their accounts. In India, MySpace currently has about 61 million unique visitors, while social media king Facebook has 146 million unique visitors, which is even more than the double of MySpace users. Globally it has more than 122 million monthly active users.

Besides Facebook, MySpace has also synced with Twitter, realizing the fact that Twitter is spread its tentacles at a blitzkrieg speed.

This is not the first move by MySpace to save its drowning ship. In the US it had recently upgraded its profile that bears resemblance to Facebook’s look.

This move by MySpace has generated great interest amongst media analysts because it is not everyday that you see two arch rivals in the age of fierce competition tie up with each other. Let’s see how long their matrimony lasts!

The king of search engines, Google, never ceases to amaze us. The online giant has recently divulged details of YouTube now organizing a pay-per-view online full-fledged movie service.

Come year end, fans may just see YouTube convert from a user-generated online website to an international online channel for movies. According to the Financial Times, the latest films in the movie industry would be priced at $5, a little higher than the usual $0.99 to $3.99. A catalog that contains the entire YouTube pricing list for previous films is already maintained. Faint rumors have it that this service would collaborate with the also upcoming Google TV.

Wall Street Journal stated Google was in negotiations with Lions Gate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros. and Sony. Possibilities of a parallel release on the website along with their DVD-release have also stemmed out.

An executive from the company stated to Financial Times,

“Google and YouTube are a global phenomenon with a hell of a lot of eyeballs — more than any cable or satellite service. They’ve talked about how many people they could steer to this … it’s a huge number.”

Should such a concept roll out, YouTube will undoubtedly be pitted against iTunes, Hulu and Netflix. They might be given a run for their money too.

This one we surely do not want to miss!

The world is now introduced to a 3D television System which enables image feeling through the i3 space device that is developed by Norio Nakamura, a senior scientist in the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan. This 3D TV absolutely caters to the sense of touch.

Six motion-detector cameras are used to monitor viewer’s fingers, and tiny clips attached to their index fingers vibrate when they touch an image. And as the image is touched, this technology changes the shape into a 3-dimensional image.

Although this technology may take time to reach our living rooms, the makers say it could be useful to surgeons to practice an operation before actually performing it live on a patient. Also the gaming industry is likely to welcome it with open arms as it will provide a live experience to

gamers. The technology can also be used to create a virtual museum, where visitors will be able to touch the valued sculpture which is otherwise not possible. This would also provide a chance to visually impaired people to feel the sculptures.

The AIST will be presenting this invention in the CEDEC 2010 that is to be held in September especially for the gaming industry.

As to how and in which direction this invention will progress and get accepted is a tricky question to answer, but I give it a thumbs up and am waiting for it in my living room.

WAN-IFRA will now launch the Asian Digital Media Awards, the first of its kind, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. WAN-IFRA is the association of newspapers and news publishers of the world representing about 18,000 publications in five continents. The awards will be announced during the Publish Asia conference, 2010 at Malaysia’s capital city.

The Awards are to appreciate those media companies who have adopted digital media to compete with the changed face of how people consume news in modern times. The awards will be presented on the 24th of November, this year, along with the Digital Media Asia conference that would be held in Singapore.

Thomas Jacob, the deputy CEO of WAN-IFRA CH said, “

Although print remains the newspaper publishers’ core business, it is crucial for them to position their content on all the available digital platforms and devices

”. He further added “

Traditional news media must be ready to effectively compete with digital pure players

”.

The categories will include Best in Cross Media or Best in Online Media. It will also include new categories such as Online Content, Best in Mobile Media, eReader/Tablet and Social Media. Any Asian media company that operates on a digital platform can participate and send in their entries. It will be a good platform for all media companies to exhibit their prowess in the competition. The last date for sending in entries is 30 September 2010.

Below listed are the categories in which media organizations can send in their entries:

- Best in digital context – this includes excellence in online video journalism and infographics

- Best in online media –the best websites in the magazine, Newspaper and classifieds category

 - Best in cross media – Cross media editorial coverage and media advertising

- User generated content (UGC)- Best in social media – ground-breaking use of social media (Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, twitter and others)- Best in mobile media

 - Mobile publishing and advertising

- Best in eReaderor tablet – Tablet or iPad and eReader news product

WAN-IFRA has really come up with a very creative and constructive move to acknowledge the pioneers of media who are now connecting with users through digital media, as digital media is the need of the hour for every company that needs to be in the race for excellence. Hope such initiatives encourage the digital industry.

The feel of IE (9) is very similar to the present Google Chrome. The browser offers a minimalist user interface and leaves much room for the websites. The IE (9) is expected to support the modern versions of HTML5. Some of the new features are added are based on HTML5, CSS3, DOM L2 and L3, SVG, etc.

The navigation bar is a more simplified one along with the tools. Unlike the previous version the IE (9) has fewer elements leaving more space for the site. Also the tools are simpler. An integrated search box into one address bar protects the user data and all the menus are merged into one. Only what is necessary to the user while browsing is displayed on the screen. Further an advanced function of aero snap quickly displays two sites or pages at the same site. All one needs to do is drag the edges of the screen and the sites/pages appear next to each other.

If this leaked information is to be believed then we surely know what the September 15 launch has in store for us. Still if you something more in mind you always share it with us.

Following are the impressive features:

- Android Operating System

- Bluetooth

- Wi-Fi

- In built 3 mega pixel camera and a front camera

- Web browsing including flash support

- Voice and Video calling

- Mini USB port- E-book reader

- GPS

- Instant messaging

- 3.5G HSUPA connectivity

OlivePad is likely to give the consumers a cutting edge technology experience while bringing in a new revolution in the mobile devices that truly brings the whole world in our window. Also with OlivePad the need for a notebook or a laptop is no more. More over a notebook that allows you to make calls is definitely a super cool option. It’s priced in the range of Rs.22, 000 TO Rs. 25,000 though it not being the official price.

Though OlivePad has taken things to higher level, the next and more interesting thing to know would be Apple’s take on it.

According to comScore, a marketing research company, in July 2010, Facebook registered 20.87 million users while Orkut has 19.87 million users, making Facebook the clear winner in a close battle between the two arch rivals. Facebook gained the top notch thanks to the increase in the Number of users by a whopping 179% from last year when it had a meager 7.47 million unique users in its kitty. On the other hand Orkut only noticed a small growth percentage of 16% from 2009.India is a huge market for social networking sites .In July alone 33 million Internet users visited these sites. Globally India stands on the seventh position in social networking with a growth rate of 43 percent from 2009.

Although, the downfall of Orkut in India took place only now, globally it has been sluggish, seeing only a 1% rise. Facebook gained a 55% rise (571 million users) while MySpace suffered a loss by 21% (98 million users).

According to social media analysts, Facebook has gained momentum because it attracts older age groups also along with the younger users. Facebook also took the pie in advertising content, as more newspapers and businesses allow the users to share their respective content with other users on their friend list. Facebook also has games like Farmville, Restaurant City, and Mafia Wars, as also the various applications including send flowers, hug your friend and quizzes.

Analysts say that Orkut lost the war because the communities are very repetitive and the security is weak. Facebook is more appealing and provides a better security.Orkut is in a state of dismay and shock after losing the top rank and has brought about some immediate changes to reinforce itself as it is still a popular social-networking site. Orkut plans to improvise its applications and pages. The buzz is that it is coming up with Google Me, a competitor for Facebook.

Presently, Google is ahead of Facebook in usage only in Brazil with a user base of almost 29 million while Facebook is catching up, with a current customer base of only about   eight million. In this race, newbie Twitter has a rather impressive growth rate of 239 per cent since July last year.

So since the winner takes it all, congratulations Facebook! And good luck Orkut for 2011! The reading for next year would be equally interesting and the race to win the crown to reign the social media world would be intense. But in the battle between Orkut and Facebook, don’t ignore Twitter. The way the site is progressing up, it could be a well narrated cat taking away the cake in the fight between the monkeys saga. May the best social networking site win.

Renowned cable network company, MTV hops on to the social media bandwagon by joining hands with Eventful, a digital information marketing and service provider for their latest film. Earlier slated to come in as a web-series, the film is also been considered for a telecast on TV this October.

The entire motive of such an approach is to create audience awareness for the film and thus increase the demand. MTV stated a confirmed release if the demand number surpasses 100,000 people. The social media campaign that went green two weeks back has already received a stunning 64,000 demands already.

MTV also plans to sell the international rights for revenue besides a parallel digital and television advertising sale.

Savage County, which is directed by David Harris, revolves around a teenage group that fall prey to a family of killers after a prank goes wrong.

The films cost of $250,000-$300,000 has blown past the estimated cost of $11,000 for the movie ‘Paranormal Activity’. The producers are strongly convinced with such an approach and have pinned their hopes that this might top Paranormal Activity’s total gross as well.

There is an estimated 16 million users on Eventful that hunt for interesting music and movies (horror seems to rank high on the search list).

Could this be yet another benchmark move in the social media industry? Only time will tell.