13 posts and columns on Speakeasy

How Does Twitter Verify Celebrity Accounts?

in News on March 7, 2011 at 4:20 pm PT

While Twitter continues to give celebrities, athletes, musicians, actors and others a platform to directly connect with their fans, the social networking site remains tight-lipped about how it determines if those stars are really who they say they are.

Is Japan Losing Edge on Vending Machines?

in News on January 21, 2011 at 12:00 am PT

It’s enough to make you cry into your ramen. First, the bullet trains aren’t 100% perfect, and now Japan’s losing out on its vaunted vending machine innovation. Or so it would appear from this week’s stories on the arrival in Tokyo of a vending machine that sells gold.

Live Nation Entertainment's Irving Azoff Tweets Up a Storm

in News on August 5, 2010 at 5:00 am PT

Now we know why executives have handlers. Irving Azoff, Live Nation Entertainment’s colorful executive chairman, has long been known in the music industry for his short fuse. Now thanks to Twitter, anyone who feels like it can get a taste of Azoff’s legendary temper.

Can Chris DeWolfe's Mindjolt Find the Next Great Videogame Developers?

in News on July 23, 2010 at 8:09 am PT

As a co-founder of MySpace, Chris DeWolfe helped undiscovered musicians harness social networking on the Internet to find fans. Now he’s trying to do the same thing for undiscovered videogame developers.

Kenya Launches Country's First Viral Music Video

in News on March 24, 2010 at 11:00 am PT

Boy group Just-a-Band have sparked what many are calling Kenya’s first viral sensation. Conjuring up references to 1970s cult classics like “Shaft,” Just-a-Band’s latest video, “Ha-He,” introduces the fictional Makmende sporting shades, chains, an Afro pick and what appears to be polyester.

Twilight 3 Script for "Eclipse" Leaked to Internet

in News on January 6, 2010 at 2:34 pm PT

If you’re wearing a Team Edward or Team Jacob T-shirt, this is probably old news, but a 112-page screenplay for “Eclipse”–the third installment of the Twilight franchise–has been leaked to the internet.

The Making of a New Super Mario Bros.

in News on December 11, 2009 at 1:54 pm PT

Since the first Mario Bros. game was released by Nintendo in 1983, the little Italian plumber and his brother Luigi have become iconic characters. As of September, various versions of the game that debuted over the years had sold more than 222 million copies.

Pomplamoose: Inspired by Avant-Garde Film and Michael Jackson, a Hit on YouTube

in News on December 3, 2009 at 9:47 am PT

Indie rockers Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte are pioneers in the new VideoSong movement, soon to hit a computer near you. The Stanford University graduates in the summer of 2008 formed the band Pomplamoose, recording high-energy video covers of popular tunes like Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”

Microsoft Xbox Goes Live With "1 vs. 100″

in News on November 9, 2009 at 1:35 pm PT

Since first releasing the Xbox nearly a decade ago, Microsoft has been targeting your living room. From videogames to film downloads to the coming Facebook add-on for their Xbox Live service, the software maker has rolled out features that aim to shorten the link between your computer and your TV set.

Cult Musician Mojo Nixon Storms the Web

in News on October 22, 2009 at 12:33 pm PT

Cult musician Mojo Nixon hasn’t had a hit in years, but he’s moved over a million songs at Amazon.com so far this month. The artist, who calls his revved-up rockabilly sound “psychobilly,” earlier this year cooked up a scheme to put almost his entire catalog up on Amazon.com, for free.

"Brutal Legend" Video Game Features Jack Black and Possibly the Heaviest Metal Soundtrack Ever

in News, October 12, 2009 at 1:43 pm PT

Kindle Averts Battle Over Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol"

in News, August 13, 2009 at 3:30 pm PT

The New York Times Explains Why It Prints Old News

in Media, June 11, 2009 at 4:36 am PT