New Media Blog

Exhibitor asked to leave gaming expo due to GamerGate affiliation

Last week, an exhibitor that called itself the Honey Badger Brigade, was asked to leave the Calgary Expo – a “geek convention” – after several members of its team attempted to disrupt a panel on “Women Into Comics” and prominently displaying GamerGate logos. (Kotaku)

Live-streaming apps have a problem

If our first response to new technology is to be afraid of it, it seems our second response is to figure out a way how to use the technology to make explicit content.

Mashable reported last week that both live-streaming apps, Periscope and Meerkat, are fighting what it describes as a “softcore problem.” It’s more prominent on Meerkat, which has a smaller staff to combat reported violations of service.

“It’s our job to have mechanisms in place to organize content in a way that protects minors, and as we develop features around this, we are keeping a very close eye on Meerkat‘s content,” said Ryan Cooley, Meerkat’s community manager.

This is not a new problem with new technology. Vine had similar issues on its launch as did Instagram video. Even Instagram pictures at one point were combating the explicit content problem.

Google under fire in Europe

On Wednesday, the European Union filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, claiming that it was using its search powers to inappropriately skew shopping search results in its favor.

In addition, an investigation into whether or not Google stifled its competition in development of Android devices is also underway.

“The commission could fine Google up to 10 percent of its annual revenue, or more than $6 billion,” according to Re/code.

According to the New York Times, if the EU is successful, Google could be forced to give “smaller competitors like Yelp greater prominence in its search queries.”

Rumored: Yahoo to buy Foursquare?

According to TechCrunch, Yahoo is interested in buying mobile check-in app Foursquare. At least one source is reporting that the deal is already done, but both companies declined comment in the article.

Re/code, however, writes that its sources say the deal isn’t happening.

So, your guess is as good as anyone’s at this point.

Net Neutrality lawsuits filed

And so it begins …

On Monday, USTelecom announced a lawsuit challenging the recent net neutrality ruling by the FCC.

On Tuesday, the CTIA (Wireless Association) and NCTA (National Cable & Telecommunications Association) announced their respective lawsuits.

The NCTA hired Theodore Olson to be its lawyer. Yes, that’s the same lawyer – the former U.S. Solicitor General – who argued in the Supreme Court for the legalization of same-sex marriage. (Mashable)

Expect months and months … if not years … of debate to begin soon.

Documentary by iPhone

Luxury car brand Bentley produced a 4-minute documentary short to promote its car brand … shot completely on an iPhone 5S. The short was uploaded to YouTube in May 2014. (BeastGrip)

The trend of producing professional content using mobile devices is growing in popularity. Earlier this year, an episode of ABC’s Modern Family was shot using mobile devices. (BuzzFeed)