Mashable
After failing
on Christmas, Sony's PlayStation Network and Microsoft's Xbox Live are still experiencing problems that are preventing many users from signing on to the services. At least one hacker group is taking credit for bringing down the services. But could it just be Christmas overload
TechCrunch
Vizio is not impressed with curved-screen TVs. To highlight its resistance as Samsung, Sony, LG and the rest of the lot venture into questionable curvy territory, it pushed out a surprisingly chuckle-worthy phony infomercial.
CNN Money
YouTube is reportedly ready to stream “The Interview.” Sources tell CNN that a deal between Sony Pictures and Google’s video unit is close to signing, which would bring the highly-controversial comedy to anyone with a Web connection. If the deal gets done, "The Interview" will have what “a historic simultaneous release in both living rooms and theaters,” CNN notes. “It would be available for rental through YouTube on Christmas Day, the same day it premieres in about 300 independently-owned theaters across the United States.”
The New York Times
Dusting off the old “Choose Your Own Adventure” model, video startup Interlude is winning over viewers by letting them decide what direction music videos take. “As the [video] plays, a viewer is prompted with questions about how to proceed -- wear the black dress or the white one? -- and the video seamlessly integrates each choice,” The New York Times reports. Interlude recently entered into a joint venture with Warner Music Group.
Pew Research Center makes its data available to the public for secondary analysis. Here are a bunch of links that might be helpful to you as the year comes to a close.
Daily Mail
From the Contrived Australian Political Controversies desk of the Daily Mail: "Bill Shorten has delivered his traditional Christmas message to the nation but his 'singsongy' speech didn't sit well with everyone due to poor quality and supposed 'insincerity'. The opposition leader was filmed in front of a Christmas tree in a parliamentary office and a version was uploaded to the Australian Labor Party's YouTube account on Tuesday. An echo in the background, noise from someone in the room and his at times high pitched voice has been mocked by viewers since it appeared online."
Wall Street Journal
Don't be surprised if you see NFL highlight videos--on Facebook. The league just made a deal with the football league to use Facebook for clips, sponsored by Verizon
Seeking Alpha
Reed Hastings has his pay cut from $3 million to $1 million but the stock options still look sweet. CCO Ted Sarandos also gets a salary chop.
The New York Times
The New York Times checks in on YouTube, it ongoing mission to reposition itself as a hub for higher-quality programming, and the women in charge of it all: YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. On the bright side, YouTube and its stars have never been more popular. Yet, the Google unit is still having trouble attracting TV-size ad dollars, its stars are demanding a bigger share of ad revenue, and rival networks are trying to steal them away. That, and, “The legions of young, tech-knowledgeable entrepreneurs who were raised on YouTube … think they can build something better,” NYT writes.
Priceonomics
One common link warns readers of an imminent economic catastrophe in the guise of a news headline. It links readers to an article titled "Economist[s] Caution: Prepare For Massive Wealth Destruction." Should journalistic sites run paid ads like that?