Vines now viewable on browsers
With a quick show of hands, how many of you have actively used Instagram on a web browser? Nobody, right? With Vine's popularity growing, it was only a matter of time before they brought their talents to a bigger screen. As of today, your favorite six-second clip platform can now be shared with your friends without a smartphone through Vine's new website platform.
By visiting Vine's new website, you can easily see your Vine timeline, as well as your own personal profile. However, much like Instagram's browser website, you can't upload any content. Aspiring Vine artists can feel comfortable knowing they can easily share their profiles with a dedicated URL instead of linking to videos individually or having to re-upload them to a more convenient video service like YouTube.
In addition, a "TV mode" option is available for users viewing the Vine site to expand the video clips into full-screen mode. Why anybody would want to do this for six second-long clips is beyond me, but whatever floats your boat. If Vine truly wants to take the next step in growing their product, they should introduce playlists allowing viewers to watch multiple clips back to back. Imagine the level of creativity going into expanding upon the six second limit while still adhering to that same timeframe. The possibilities!
[via Vine]
The Tontons: "Magic Hour"
As we ease our way into the new year, one of the more exciting acts on the cusp is Houston-based foursome, The Tontons, who released their latest single, "Magic Hour" on Rolling Stone. The group enjoyed considerable success in 2013, releasing their debut video, "Veida" on The Wall Street Journal's music website and playing Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas, where they opened for Kurt Vile to start the fest and where we caught up with them as well. The group's funky, upbeat vibes can make even sitting inside on a cold snowy day seem pleasant.
Check out the latest from The Tontons by downloading the song on Rolling Stone.
Super Bowl XLVIII will stream for free on Fox Sports Go
With billions of dollars in generated revenue, the Super Bowl is consistently the largest televised event of the year. With the rise of streaming and declining necessity for a large screen TV, the NFL has been exploring streaming options for past Super Bowls to huge success. Not one to skip the bandwagon, Fox Sports will also be offering a streaming option for Super Bowl XLVIII.
Select TV subscribers will be able to stream both the Super Bowl and all NFC playoff games through Fox Sports' own Fox Sports Go for free depending on your cable or satellite provider. However, the options are limited, as only AT&T U-Verse, Midcontinent Connections, Optimum, SuddenLink, WOW!, and Xfinity subscribers are the only ones currently eligible for this offer - sorry DirecTV users.
[via Engadget]
Rick Ross Sues LMFAO
William Leonard Roberts II, also known as "Rick Ross," has found himself in the news quite a bit as of late. Most recently, a lawsuit has been filed in Florida in both his name and Jermaine "Mayne Zayne" Jackson, one half of the production duo The Runners, alleging Copyright Infringement against the pop duo LMFAO for their 2010 song "Party Rock Anthem". In the song the phrase "Everyday I'm shufflin'" is sung, which is similar to the chorus of Roberts' 2006 song "Hustlin". Interestingly, LMFAO's publisher, Kobalt Music Group was joined as a defendant on the lawsuit by Kia Motors America, who licensed "Party Rock Anthem" for commercials.
The lawsuit reads, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "The use of 'Hustlin' ' in 'Party Rock Anthem' is readily apparent, despite the slight change from 'Everyday I’m hustlin' …' to 'Everyday I'm shufflin' …' and constitutes, [among other things], the creation of an unauthorized derivative work..." And that the lyric is, "performed in a manner to sound like" Ross. They also call it "[...]an obvious attempt to capitalize on the fame and success of 'Hustlin''... The phrase is so important to the success of 'Party Rock Anthem,' that LMFAO launched a highly successful clothing line, Party Rock Clothing, that features the phrase on T-shirts and other clothing items."
Roberts also ended his ongoing civil trial with former drug kingpin "Freeway" Ricky Ross, who had been suing him for appropriating his image and life story into a successful rap career. A judge found Roberts not guilty on that charge earlier this week, just after releasing a verse on Kanye West's "Bound 2".
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
[LP] Del The Funky Homosapien: "Iller Than Most"
Del The Funky Homosapien has been making a resurgence of sorts over the past year. With his Deltron 3030 release, Event 2, and a tour that featured a 16 piece orchestra, complete with conductor, Del decided to roll things over into the new year with a spontaneous online release, Iller Than Most. Of the eleven song project, dropped at midnight yesterday, Del had this to say: "Lyrically ill but fun to listen to, nothing super heavy. I did the production on it as well." It's easy to tell he took care of the production, with a familiar funk-ified, otherworldly aesthetic that oozes Del through and through, and which is especially pronounced on the opening track when he chants "Take me to your leader!" Stream the latest from Del The Funky Homosapien below.
[EP] Donnie Trumpet: "Loopie"
Former Kids These Days trumpet player Nico Segal has been building a following under his moniker Donnie Trumpet for some time now. Having dropped the somewhat, self-titled Donnie Trumpet late last Summer, the multi-talented young artist is back with his latest five track EP, Loopie. The name derives from the loop-based sensibility of the track. Instructions for Donnie himself accompany the track on his Soundcloud, informing listeners "click repeat 1 on iTunes and the beats will loop in time. Producers go ahead and make songs. Rappers rap raps." Donnie/Nico is a truly resilient artist who has begun carving out an interesting niche with creative ideas and a horn. Busy on the road with Frank Ocean all of last year, following the break up of KTD, Segal has been moving around the country working for what should be a prosperous 2014. Check out his latest streaming here below.