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CBS All Access' 'One Dollar' trailer links money to murder
CBS wants to remind you that its All Access streaming service isn't just about Star Trek, and it's doing that in grand fashion. The network has posted the first trailer for One Dollar, a thriller series that underscores the dangers of money. It features singer Sturgill Simpson as a former steel mill worker swept up in class and culture wars that ignite after a strange multiple murder. The hook, as the name implies, is a dollar bill -- its path through a declining company town provides different perspectives from people desperate for and corrupted by cash.
Apple rolling out $1 TV shows for iPad launch?
According to a story posted by the Financial Times on Wednesday, Apple may be in talks with studios to bring $1 TV shows to iTunes, as part of the official iPad launch. Apparently this will be a test to model for the company to see whether cheaply-priced content will spur sales. Given yesterday's news about declining iTunes music growth due to higher prices, I'm betting it will. The story goes on to claim that Apple has been engaged in secret talks with major networks for the past few months, to cut prices on standard definition TV shows in half -- currently priced at $1.99. The reason behind this move is the iPad's 4:3 aspect ratio, ideally suited for standard def content which Apple hopes consumers will eagerly download at a buck a pop. True or not, I just hope we see this long-rumored $30 subscription model we've been hearing about, so I can finally tell the nice folks at Comcast where they can put their cable. Hint: not in my home.
The $1 PS3 and the concept of charity
Come gather round, children, and let me tell you a heartwarming story of Christmas charity. This is the story of On Ouchs, a Cambodian immigrant living in British Columbia, Canada. Ouchs decided to spend $1500 on a PlayStation 3 and games and then give it all away. But he didn't decide to give it away the normal way, by shipping it off to Child's Play or Toys for Tots or something. No, Ouchs had something different in mind.He set up an eBay auction for the PS3 for an amazingly low $1 "Buy it Now" price and then (and this is key) didn't let anyone bid on it. Instead, he set up a special web site, OneDollarPlaystation3.com, where people all over the world could "write to Santa and explain to him why you think you should be on the Good List." The deserving people that Ouchs -- I mean Santa -- deemed deserving of the coveted system would then be allowed to bid on the auction at some random, unannounced time in the future. Just picture it: hundreds of needy hopefuls trapped in front of their computers, compulsively checking for the magic auction to open just for a slim chance at the coveted system. It's beautiful, isn't it?What spurred Ouchs to such generosity? Many point to Ouchs claim that he's "a nice guy and [who wants] to make someone's Christmas a little brighter this year," as justification enough. Others point to his admission that he "want[s] to make history and, in the process, maybe make an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and other television talk shows." So great was Ouchs' selflessness that he only posted the press release about his generous offer to six different web sites.Yes, in all seriousness, Ouchs' auction will truly be a blessing to one lucky gamer this season, even if his unique method of charity smacks a little of vain opportunism. With any luck, we at Joystiq won't be put on Santa's Bad List just for poking a little fun.[Thanks Kathy]
