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Deepfake Queen Elizabeth II will deliver 'alternative' Christmas message (updated)
Just about every year since 1952, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has delivered a Christmas address to the masses, and 2020 will be no different. Shortly after she gives her remarks, however, British broadcaster Channel 4 will air an “alternative message” from the Queen, brought to life by deepfake software and an actress with a pseudo-regal affect. “On the BBC, I haven’t always been able to speak plainly and from the heart,” the “Queen” said in a promo posted to the broadcaster’s Twitter.
The Queen's Christmas message will be available on Alexa for the first time
Queen Elizabeth will deliver her Christmas Day message on smart speakers for the first time through Alexa.
Steve Jobs' knighthood rejected by Gordon Brown?
As a loyal iPod user, you'd have thought that Queen Elizabeth II would have seen fit to bestow an honorary knighthood on a certain Steven Paul Jobs by now. After all, Sir Bill received his back in 2005 even though his company couldn't quite get its cellphone or tablet strategies to stick with consumers. According to an anonymous senior Labour MP who left Parliament in the last election, Jobs had reached the final stages of approval for "services to technology" only to be rejected in 2009 by the then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Why? Well, according to The Telegraph, Jobs had the audacity to turn down an offer to speak at Labour's annual conference. In retaliation we hear that Apple is holding Jony Ive -- himself, an honorary Commander of the British Empire -- hostage in an infinitely looping orange grove somewhere in northern California. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
THQ ships gold-plated Wii to Queen of England
Buckingham Palace will be getting a special delivery today as THQ plans to deliver a golden Wii earmarked for the Queen.The pack will also include a copy of the newly released BIG Family Games, as Philip, Charles and the rest of the royal gang compete for the living room crown. The publisher hopes the PR stunt will amuse Queen Elizabeth, though we hope the 83-year old monarch doesn't throw her arm out swinging the console's presumably heavier gold-plated remote.
President Obama offers iPod to the Queen of England
No, this isn't an April Fool's joke. President Obama met today at Buckingham Palace with the Queen, and our forward thinking commander-in-chief brought along a little tech for gifting purposes. Obama presented Elizabeth II with an iPod containing video from her 2007 visit to the States. In return, the first family received what is apparently a standard present for visiting dignitaries to the Palace -- a silver-framed photo of the Queen and her husband. At a glance, it seems like Obama has a thing for gadgets (and related media); he recently handed off a set of DVDs featuring classic American films to Prime Minister Gordon Brown... who was unable to play them due to incorrect region encoding. Regardless, the Queen appears pleased with the music player, telling the President during their 25 minute tea that she "Finally has something to listen to [her] Pantera records on."
When podcasting jumped the shark: QE II
Mark well this day, for it is the day the music died -- or at least, the day podcasting stopped being cool. This year's Christmas message from Queen Elizabeth will be podcast for the first time. You don't get any more old-media than the Queen, but apparently her royal majesty now is ready to have an RSS feed.Considering that The Queen is the 40th British monarch since William the Conqueror, I suppose it is high time that her Christmas message gets delivered in 21st-century fashion.[via Macworld/PlayListMag]
