Arts briefs

Face-to-Facebook

The face of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, announced on July 6 that new products that will be added to the social network. Presented over Facebook live, and in front of an entire room of people staring at their computer screens instead of Zuckerberg, were demos of group-chatting features, new designs and, most notably, a video calling option. In a partnership with Skype, Facebook users can now chat “face-to-face” online.

 There is no word yet as to how an audience of internet users who have shut out actual social interactions while replacing them with an online life will react when forced to once again—even though online—socially engage another human being face-to-face.

The Next Generation on Netflix

Beginning this month, film rental giant Netflix began instantly streaming the entire cannon ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. This editor in particular will now refrain from living a life, studying, having a future, etc.

This is the first time the epic series has been made available digitally. In addition, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise are also available to stream on Netflix. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is set to be streaming on Netflix on October 1.

Apple sells over 15 billion apps

More than 15 billion apps have been downloaded from Apple’s app store according to a press release from Apple last week. Over 200 million users of iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches have downloaded apps from Apple, which offers more than 425,000 apps from its store. All once again proving that while children starve in poorer countries, tech-savvy consumers would rather spend their money and time by throwing cartoon birds.

Social profiling

It was reported last Friday that Israel was using social networking services such as Facebook and possibly others such as Twitter to identify  Palestine-friendly travelers. With instructions to keep the pro-Palestine travelers off flights into the country, the names of over 300 social networkers were given to airlines. Some of the people named did fly into the country, where they were questioned and some  deported.

Another remake instead of the original

The Weinstein Company acquired the rights to the French film Untouchable over the weekend. This would give the company rights over distribution of the original French-language version as well as over the American remake they are currently planning.

 This is the latest acquisition by the Weinstein Company, banking on the well-founded notion that Americans will avoid subtitles at any cost.  ?