Media Maverick

Amazon denies standalone subscription-video service plans

Amazon denied that it plans to soon launch a standalone video-streaming service similar to Netflix, dashing--for now--the prospect of a true head-to-head battle between the rivals.

Brad Beale, who oversees Amazon's video-acquisition unit, said in an interview with GigaOm's Ryan Lawler on Wednesday: "The bundle of benefits that come with Amazon Prime make perfect sense to offer to customers. The way that Prime Instant Video is offered today--we're going to continue that approach at least into the near future."

Even Netflix believed Amazon might spin off a standalone video service. In Netflix's fourth-quarter earnings last month,

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Google working on home entertainment center, WSJ says

Google hasn't given up on creating its own consumer electronics gear.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the company is working on a home entertainment device that would "stream music wirelessly throughout the home" and be marketed under Google's name.

A Google spokesman declined to comment.

According to the Journal, this would mark Google's first "full-fledged effort to design and market consumer electronics devices" under its own brand. That may be, but Google has dabbled with creating consumer products before and has met with mixed results.

Google TV was software intended to power smart TVs and more

Read FBI background report on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs

Turns out that the FBI did a background check on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 1991, when he was considered for an appointment on George H.W. Bush's President's Export Council.

According to the report, which the bureau published today, Jobs' past drug use raised some questions, as did his lack of support for his eldest child, who was born out of wedlock. Jobs died last October after a long fight with pancreatic cancer.

You can read the report here. We've pulled some screen shots from the report and they're below. Many names in the report more

Police seize MegaUpload founder's New Zealand home

The $4.3 million New Zealand home owned by MegaUpload founder Kim DotCom was seized by police in that country today, according to published reports.

The home seized was not the grand $25 million mansion where the MegaUpload founder was living and had leased prior to his January 19 arrest by more than 70 police officers. He was prevented from buying that larger home because he failed to pass the "good character test" required for foreigners to buy property in New Zealand, numerous publications in that country are reporting tonight.

But DotCom, who the United States has accused of Internet more

On the Web, latest 'Bourne' trailer goes boom

The Web is getting re-Bourne today. As in Jason Bourne.

NBC Universal released the trailer for the "Bourne Legacy," the latest installment in the popular "Bourne" film series. Not surprisingly, the film trailer has begun to light up Twitter and is quickly circulating on the Web, even though the movie isn't scheduled hit theaters for another six months.

Who could have guessed that stories about spies and government conspiracies that are well told and acted would strike a chord with the public?

Matt Damon, who has starred in the previous three Bourne films, is not coming back for this more

GigaOm acquires media blog paidContent

GigaOm, one of Silicon Valley's best-known blogs, said today it has acquired the assets from ContentNext Media, parent company of media blog paidContent, from publisher Guardian News & Media.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

"PaidContent is the leading voice covering the evolution of media, an area that is very important to us," said Paul Walborsky, CEO of GigaOM. "Integrating our teams will enrich our editorial coverage and expand our footprint immediately in two markets that are critical to our growth - New York City and the United Kingdom."

In addition to paidContent.org the other ContentNext assets acquired include mocoNews.more

Paul McCartney pulls tracks from streaming services

Paul McCartney has become the latest artist to just say no to streaming.

McCartney pulled his music from services such as Rhapsody, a broader move than some of the high-profile acts who have declined to license their latest releases to streaming sites recently, including Coldplay, Tom Waits, and Adele.

Not only has he blocked streaming services from licensing his songs, he's decided to yank his entire music collection from streaming outlets, according to Digital Music News. (Spotify has contacted CNET to say that McCartney first removed his music from that site in 2010.)

A spokeswoman for Rhapsody confirmed that more

Amazon adds Viacom shows, expands streaming selection

Look out Netflix. While you're worried about HBO, Amazon's building up its streaming library.

Amazon announced today it has signed a licensing agreement with Viacom that will bring the entertainment conglomerate's shows to Amazon's Prime video service. Over the next several months, Amazon will receive access to episodes from Viacom's Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and BET outlets, the company said in a statement.

"This deal will bring the total number of Prime Instant Videos to more than 15,000," Amazon wrote.

This hits Netflix where it hurts. Amazon continues to build up the number of more

Is HBO's investment in Netflix-like firm a strategy shift?

At a time when HBO tries to downplay the suggestion that any significant rivalry exists between it and Netflix, managers there have worked to acquire a Netflix lookalike in Australia.

And get this: the name of this video rental service HBO bought is Quickflix.

Seem familiar? The name sounds like a blend of Netflix and the company's ill-fated spinoff, known as Qwikster. HBO's managers had to know how it would look for the premium cable channel to invest $10 million in a company with a name like that.

Not surprisingly, some media outlets are writing that HBO's more