M2 here, coming in on three days rest to do some short relief for the "master." (He always asks me to call him that during our podcasts but I generally refuse.)

. . . So, even though Allen's not here at the moment, I think he'd agree with me that based on this story, it would appear that Morgan Freeman's film company, Revelations, and Intel are teaming up to do what any right-thinking entreprenuers should be doing right now: challenge the orthodoxy.

"Anytime, any place on any device" (their motto) and "...making content available online isn't an option, it's an imperative for the industry..." (atributed to CEO of ClickStar, the name of the new service the two entities are creating).

Difference between this and other online services, MovieLink and CinemaNow: a) the major studios are not majority owners or otherwise heavily invested in clickstar as they are with the others and b) this service is going to focus on first-run movies. In other words, they are NOT worried about goring the sacred cow known as the DVD Sales/rental market.

Wow, sounds like they might get it.

Now, if only they can get some compelling content . . .

Mike and I drivel on about Google and Microsoft's new efforts on viewing earth and its wonderful features from the comfort of your search engine.

Also, Steve Jobs says Apple is getting into Podcasting. Whoa. That's market-changing news.

Why wouldn’t the makers of this technology include some sort of Wi Fi/Wimax capability? Seems to me this is a golden opportunity for grocery stores and other retailers to use technology to deliver customized content to shoppers for them to download while they shop—go beyond the experience of content they view while shopping. Advertisers would go wild over this opportunity. Another option is to allow consumers to plug their devices (iPods, PDAs…) into the cart to download content on the fly for later usage. This is one of the elements behind Mike and my notion of “content foraging.”

New Computers Make Grocery Carts Smarter

By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press WriterWed May 4, 7:34 AM ET

New supermarket carts equipped with touch screens will guide you to the tomatoes or toothpicks, let you order deli meat without standing in line and keep a running tally of your purchases.

What they won't do is tell you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart. The idea is to make it easier for consumers to buy, not induce second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf.

The touch-screen devices are on display at the supermarket industry's annual con

I was talking with a friend the other day about the World Cup and the fact that it would be perhaps the best global sporting event to see in person. All eyes will be on how FIFA ®, the World cup organizing body, utilizes the “digital channel” to allow the billions of fans who cannot fly to Germany (let alone get tickets) enjoy the games. Here’s a story from the UK talking about one effort to monetize the qualifying games.

As for me, I think it could be one of the greatest videoblogging opportunities ever. If someone gave me a press credential, I’d be there.

Mike and I talk about Infinity's plans plus the impact of some new distribution models on content creators. Are we all going to be the next round of Dot.Com millionaires or just a bunch of pretty faces (and voices)?

Plus, is it true consumers are starting to realize network sitcoms are...well...not that good?

This is way cool. It also looks to be the making of a global trend. Even if it becomes part of a paid subscription service, it will be extraordinarily valuable. Broadband service for commuters turns the PC and other devices into a platform for communications (Skype while on the bus or train); productivity device; radio, TV, and movie studio. The impact on cellphones will be powerful, hence T-Mobile’s involvement. It’s also why I am skeptical about non-Internet delivered services such as satellite radio.

100 mph WiMax hits the rails to Brighton

Service uses WiMax uplinks for Wi-Fi on the train

By Peter Judge, Techworld

Commuters from Brighton to London's Victoria station can use free broadband on the train, thanks to a Wi-Fi-and-WiMax service. The Brighton Express is an apt place for a pioneering Wi-Fi service, given Brighton's role as a high-tech media-savvy remote suburb of London (and home of more than one Techworld stalwart), but T-Mobile hopes to make this the standard way to deliver Internet connectivity on the move.

Users get an 802.11b Wi-Fi service in the carriages. A pre-WiMax system from Redline connects from antennas on the carriage roofs to base stations by the side of the track (very much like the non-mobile system at the Science Museum). The service was integrated by Nomad Digital, a WiMax specialist, and will be offered free by T-Mobile for a trial period.