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    STREET TALK

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    Street Talk

    Are anti-runaway incentives in the offing for California? Industry buzz is that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) may soon push legislation–which could include a wage-based tax credit–designed to help the state keep and attract more production. Word is that the incentive package would also apply to commercials. However, any measure would figure to face resistance, if not outright opposition, from a number of lawmakers in light of California’s budget crisis. A year and a half ago, the state’s massive budget deficit led to the disbanding of the well regarded Film California First (FCF) anti-runaway program. Administered and overseen by the California Film Commission, FCF provided reimbursements of certain film-related costs incurred by qualified production companies when shooting on local, state or federal public property in California. Eligible projects included commercials, TV programs and theatrical features…..Lewis Kofsky has been named head of computer graphics and visual effects at Curious Pictures, New York. He comes over from PDI/DreamWorks where he worked on the visual effects for Shrek 2 and the soon-to-be released Madasgascar.  Kofsky will be at the helm of Curious’ expanded effects department, which entails a 75-member team, 110 digital workstations, 50 traditional workstations, and a soundstage equipped with motion control. The move to Curious is a bit of a homecoming; earlier in his career, he worked as a technical director at the company….Visual effects supervisor, Inferno artist and designer Aron Baxter has departed Nice Shoes, New York, to join its sister facility, visual effects boutique Guava, also in New York. The move represents the first step toward a major expansion at Guava, both in terms of creative staff and technical resources. Baxter had been at Nice Shoes since ’03, having come over from Condor Post Production, London. At Nice Shoes, he focused on design, shot supervision and effects production for commercials. Meanwhile, with Baxter coming aboard Guava, Nice Shoes has promoted Inferno artist John Shea from a nighttime position to days. ….Seattle-headquartered Corbis has opened an office in Montreal. Tina Poitras, founder of Magma Photo, will head the new operation as sales director for Canada. Corbis has also acquired Zefa Visual Media Group, Dusseldorf, Germany, which is globally billed as being the third largest image licensing company. Additionally, Corbis has entered into an agreement to represent the content, as well as to handle rights management, for Marvel Enterprises. Under the pact, Corbis will rep the rights to such characters as Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Elektra and The X-Men…..Amy Kindred, formerly of Sideshow, New York, has been named executive producer of New York visual communications studio Pure….

    Category:Street Talk



    Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance

    Saturday, November 23, 2024

    Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.

    The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.

    "This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."

    The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."

    And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.

    Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.

    Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.

    Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."

    It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More

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