***Spotify consumes more data than Sweden***
Are you a hipster bandwidth hog? Do you stream ironic YouTube clips to your shiny iPhone, watch Hulu episodes of Battlestar Galactica on your Misfits-decorated Macbook and download gritty Velvet Underground MP3’s? Yeah, we all do it. But not like Spotify – a digital music service that apparently consumes more Internet capacity than even snowy Sweden. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek made this rather shocking confession during his SXSW keynote address, when he explained why the company had chosen to adopt a P2P model for its popular music download service.
***AOL journalists slack off at SXSW***
It seems as if certain AOL journalists have been slacking off at SXSW after downing one salt-encrusted margarita too many. Yes, word on the rainy Austin street is that AOL’s “Seed” news-gathering bureau panicked after some of its newly recruited contributors failed to submit their interviews in a timely manner. The desperate Seed has apparently been reduced to begging its journalist bloggers for boring “naked” interviews – without photos, bios or videos. Shocking!
***Chevrolet launches wireless augmented reality app***
Chevrolet may no longer be the heartbeat of America, but at least it is trying to stay somewhat relevant by launching a wireless mobile augmented reality application. The app – known as iReveal – allows users to view three-dimensional models of cars on city streets. Chevy also attempted to catapult its rusty self onto the fast-moving digital superhighway by pasting interactive QR codes to the hoods of company cars around Austin during SXSW.
***Microsoft offers IE9 preview***
Although unveiled in Las Vegas instead of Austin, Microsoft’s IE9 preview set the crowded SXSW hallways abuzz with loud chatter and noisy tweets. The new browser offers support for HTML and features an overhauled JavaScript engine that accelerates web performance by leveraging the multiple cores of current-gen processors. FireFox, Chrome, Opera and Safari users beware!
***SXSW keeps it real…and green!***
Kudos to the fab SXSW crew for reducing greenhouse gas pollution! Why, you ask? Well, conference organizers did their best to ensure that this year’s show would be the greenest ever. For example, an official agreement with the Bicycle Sport Shop ensured a wide variety of rentals, while Enterprise-Rent-A-Car provided a number of carbon offset options. Finally, SXSW’s website featured a “green friendly” filter option that allowed attendees to view the environmental practices of various hotels.
***Twitter goes mobile with Tweetsii***
GyPSii showed off its newly minted Tweetsii app which connects people, places and networks in a single real-time virtual mesh. The application provides hopeless Twitter addicts with a “richer” experience by allowing them to furiously tweet, check-in, send alert tips, create locations and geo-tag them with comments, photos and other rich media content. The mobile app also delivers real-time “PlaceStreams” and “EventStreams” which are based on location and social-graph connections.
***SXSW bar code debacle***
As we reported yesterday, SXSW organizers hired an Australian-based company known as QMCodes to inserted QR (bar) codes on every conference badge. The codes, which comprise a black-and-white square pattern, are activated by smartphone cameras which direct mobile browsers to an SXSW site where users can view additional data about the scanned individuals. However, many SXSW attendees have apparently declined to use the QR code system, can’t work it, or have given up after a single, frustrating attempt.
***Clearwire bolsters Austin’s 4G network***
Clearwire has announced plans to enhance its Austin 4G network in anticipation of the SXSW music and film festival. The newly reinforced network will provide tech-savvy fans with high-speed Internet access without the hassles of “constrained” 3G networks of yore. Yes, visitors to this year’s SXSW festival can experience life in 4G (as it was meant to be) with mobile showrooms that feature live musical performances, webcasting and gaming.
***Hell hath no fury like a Tweeter scorned***
It has been said that hell hath no fury like a Tweeter scorned. And no one knows that better than Twitter CEO Evan Williams who bored his tweeting audience to death yesterday during a long and painful keynote. But the merciless tweets and reactions continued to roll in on Tuesday, with Fast Company terming the speech ”the most horrifically devastating keynote presentation in SXSW history.” Remember, folks, you have to Tweet responsibly or not at all!
***Jim Carrey wins SXSW Web Awards***
Jim Carrey’s snazzy website (www.jimcarrey.com) was named the winner of the 13th annual SXSW (Film/TV) Web Awards. The site, which went live in November, received over 35,000 visits during the first weekend after it launched. JimCarrey.com – designed by the veteran comedian himself along with 65 media – features archived appearances, movie trailers as well as humorous behind-the-scenes clips.
