[H]ardNews 9th Edition

MPAA Following RIAA?

The MPAA may be following the steps of the RIAA but they are learning from the mistakes of the RIAA. The studios will be launching a new “stealing is bad” (duh) campaign in the near future to help stop downloading.

If Hollywood executives have learned anything watching their peers in the music business grapple with online file sharing, it is how not to handle a technological revolution. While the major labels in the music industry squabbled among themselves about how best to deal with Internet piracy and failed to develop consumer-friendly ways to buy music online, the movie industry has gone on a coordinated offensive to thwart the free downloading of films before it spins out of control.

Honestly, I think more extras on the DVD, outtakes and bloopers, behind the scenes stuff which is damn near free ( bloopers and outtakes cost nothing ) and keeping the prices lower than most new CDs in most cases is what will keep the MPAA from being perceived as the RIAA is. The RIAA is frowned upon by most people because they are a self serving organization. After all, the only thing you get with a $20 CD is a free colon cleansing.

Shuttle SB65G2 XPC:

SFFTech has the Shuttle SB65G2 XPC on deck. This Intel powered box has some pretty cool features, the wireless support is kinda cool. You can get a SFF and not give up too much of the features you are used too with your big box.

Shuttle has succeeded the popular SB61G2 with their latest advance into the SFF market, the SB65G2 XPC. Sporting the popular G2 series case design, including the all aluminum front faceplate, the SB65G2 has a lot to offer. While this system doesn’t feature many visible new additions from the outside, it certainly packs a punch on the inside as you’ll soon see.

Awesome HTPC:

The biggest problem with HTPCs is making them fit in your living room without standing out like a sore thumb. Check out this bad ass HTPC posted over at Bit-Tech. Nice wood finish with UV reactive acrylic layered in between the wood. Very cool stuff here.

Sure, wooden cases have been done and there are some really nice ones out there. However, this would be my first one but I wanted mine to stand out and one way was to hybrid in some various materials together. I borrowed a technique from a well known artist Kerry Vesper that makes amazing sculpture and furniture out of plywood along with other types of wood.