Apple Purchases Music Site Lala.com

Apple confirmed yesterday that it has purchased online music retailer Lala.com, a smaller technology company that has developed an as-yet-unreleased application for streaming songs to the iPhone. Though Apple has not provided any further information, such as how much the deal was worth or what it plans to do with this acquisition, Lala’s streaming application promised to give users the right to stream songs to their iPhones an unlimited number of times for $0.10 per song, significantly less than the price of songs on the iTunes Store; the tracks could be purchased thereafter. Apple was said to be interested in Lala’s technical expertise, including its payment and streaming technologies, rather than its specific application. The company was launched in 2006 as an online CD-trading site but relaunched in October 2008 as a music retailer.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Apple may be looking to expand iTunes by offering streaming services in addition to their traditional download model. The source, who asked not to be named, stated that “Apple recognizes that the model is going to evolve into a streaming one and this could probably propel iTunes to the next level.”

Brooklyn’s Finest Trailer

Coming this Spring 2010. Burned out veteran Eddie Dugan (Richard Gere) is just one week away from his pension and a fishing cabin in Connecticut. Narcotics officer Sal Procida (Ethan Hawke) has discovered theres no line he wont cross to provide a better life for his long-suffering wife and seven children. And Clarence Tango Butler (Don Cheadle) has been undercover so long his loyalties have started to shift from his fellow police officers to his prison buddy Caz (Wesley Snipes), one of Brooklyns most infamous drug dealers. With personal and work pressures bearing down on them, each man faces daily tests of judgment and honor in one of the worlds most difficult jobs. When NYPDs Operation Clean Up targets the notoriously drug-ridden BK housing project, all three officers find themselves swept away by the violence and corruption of Brooklyn’s gritty 65th Precinct and its most treacherous criminals. During seven fateful days, Eddie, Sal and Tango find themselves hurtling inextricably toward the same fatal crime scene and a shattering collision with destiny. The film captures the volatile and deadly world of one of New York’s most dangerous precincts through the eyes of the men and women pledged to protect and serve, as they face the wrenching choices that make them Brooklyn’s Finest.

StandHear Travel Stand

Agent18 has released the StandHear ($24.95), an innovative travel stand for the iPhone.

The rugged construction and fold-up design allow the StandHear to be tossed in your carry on without a second thought. The adjustable leg provides for a customizable viewing angle and the unique built-in headphone splitter means sharing your favorite movie doesn’t mean missing half the sound.

The stand has a compact clever design and is a must-have item for the traveler with an iPhone.  Fire Wire readers can receive 15% off of a $10 purchase or more online at Agent18.  This offer cannot be used with other offers or other coupon codes. Please click HERE and use coupon code A18Fire

Iron Man 2 International Poster

2009 Christmas Episodes, Specials, Movies & Marathons

TV Tango has your guide to all holiday-themed specials, episodes and movies as well as series and movie marathons for all of December. HERE is the list. Check back daily as it will be frequently updated.

Touring Tim Burton’s MoMA Exhibit

Yahoo’s Top 10 Searches of 2009

Yahoo!’s Top 10 Searches often tell us more about our guilty pleasures, distractions, and obsessions than news headlines do, like this year’s continued pursuit of online gaming, reality TV, sports, and starlets. The unexpected death of a troubled legend also drew record Web traffic and tributes.

It’s also worth noting who fell off the Top 10 list: In 2008, Barack Obama became the first politician to crack the Top 10. Despite sliding off, he still commanded plenty of online attention in ’09—enough to warrant his own list. HERE are the people and events that dominated searches in 2009.

Rattle-N-Roll Birth Announcements

Most birth announcements portray a sweet, innocent newborn, either sleeping peacefully or placidly gazing at the strange world around him. Rattle-N-Roll Birth Announcements ($250) shake things up, letting you show off your baby’s inner rock star while still conveying all the pertinent details to interested parties. Just send a high quality digital picture of your little show-stopper and they’ll transform it into a concert poster-style announcement that’ll knock your socks-off!

Stephen King To Appear on The Colbert Report on December 6th

Stephen King will appear on The Colbert Report on their Monday, December 6th broadcast.

What Book Would You Like Stephen King To Write Next?

Stephen King would like his readers to decide which book he should write next; another Dark Tower book or the sequel to the Shining. The prolific author wrote on his website today:

“Hey, you guys–I saw a lot of you Constant Readers while I was touring for Under the Dome, and I must say you’re looking good. Thanks for turning out in such numbers, and thanks for all the nice things you’ve said about Under the Dome. There’ll be another book next year. It’s a good one, I think, but that’s not why I’m writing. I mentioned two potential projects while I was on the road, one a new Mid-World book (not directly about Roland Deschain, but yes, he and his friend Cuthbert are in it, hunting a skin-man, which are what werewolves are called in that lost kingdom) and a sequel to The Shining called Doctor Sleep. Are you interested in reading either of these? If so, which one turns your dials more? Ms. Mod will be counting your votes (and of course it all means nothing if the muse doesn’t speak). Meanwhile, thanks again for 2009.”

You can vote HERE.  I would personally love to read about what happened to Danny Torrance so I voted for the Shining sequel, Doctor Sleep.

Celebrities Return To Their Iconic Roles

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Empire Magazine invited 27 actors to help recreate iconic moments in cinema from the last two decades.

My Mom’s On Facebook

Charley Harper An Illustrated Life Coffee Table Book Now Available In A Smaller Affordable Edition

I had written about the illustrator Charley Harper before HERE,  Due to the popularity of the large format Charley Harper An Illustrated Life coffee table art book, AMMO Books has just released the same book in a smaller size and more affordable price.  This gorgeous 420 page book retains the same material as it’s larger counterpart but is now priced at $49.95.  Check out his whimsical retro art style HERE and consider the book as a holiday present for the art or animal lover in your family!

Free Holiday Music Downloads From Oprah

From November 30th at 10 a.m. Central Time to December 1st at 11 p.m. Central Time, download Andrea Bocelli’s and Mary J. Blige’s duet on “What Child Is This” and Sugarland’s “Silent Night” for free HERE.