Innovation
The people who want to send smells through your TV — www.bbc.com
HT @FoSTorg
11 Tools for VR Painting, Modeling, Animation, and More — www.roadtovr.com
Though gaming is likely VR’s most visible use-case so far, it’s capable of so much more. Creatives are using VR for a wide range of artistic endeavors including painting, drawing, 3D modeling & sculpting, animating and more. If you’re interested in exploring your creativity in VR, here’s 11 tools worth checking out. via @RtoVR #VR #art
Pinterest launches next phase of augmented reality beauty regimen — adage.com
Brands like Lancôme, YSL, Urban Decay and NYX Cosmetics try on Pinterest’s new eyeshadow trick.
Google patent for shoppable images
Apple First VR Headset to Be Niche Precursor to Eventual AR Glasses — www.bloomberg.com
Apple’s first headset will focus on virtual reality, include powerful processors, and is designed as a niche precursor to eventual augmented reality glasses #AR #Apple #VR
Live Breakdance Battles in VR Are Connecting People Across the Globe— www.roadtovr.com
If you aren’t paying close attention to VR, you’d have no idea that some insanely futuristic stuff is already happening today. Case in point: VRChat is host to a growing community of people strapping on motion-trackers to have live dance battles in virtual reality.
I Spent Two Hours Inside the Met’s New Augmented-Reality Experience. Here’s a Minute-by-Minute Chronicle of My Edutainment Odyssey — news.artnet.com
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has teamed up with Verizon to create an Augmented Reality version of its galleries.
Alphabet shutting Loon, which used balloon alternative to cell towers— www.reuters.com
Alphabet Inc is shutting down Loon after concluding the business, which offers balloons as an alternative to cell towers, is not commercially viable.
Technology
Video games have replaced music as the most important aspect of youth culture
www.theguardian.com
The global video gaming industry took in an estimated $180bn in 2020 — more than sports and movies worldwide
Biden admin refreshes presidency’s website, vows accessibility — techcrunch.com
Google threatens to stop search in Australia due to media code
www.theage.com.au
The owner of Australia’s most popular search engine says it is prepared to shut the service down rather than pay media organisations for news content.
Google defends its partnership with Facebook, denies states’ claim of anticompetitive advantage
Google disputed claims from a group of attorneys general, led by Texas’ Ken Paxton, that its ad-buying arrangement with Facebook was anticompetitive. Google called the lawsuit from 10 Republican-led states “misleading.” #Google #Facebook #Advertising
European data agencies reportedly issued $193 million in fines for GDPR violations in 2020
European data protection agencies issued $193 million (€159 million) in fines in 2020 for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation. The highest penalty imposed was a $57 million fine the French authorities issued to Google.
This Site Published Every Face From Parler’s Capitol Riot Videos — www.wired.com
Faces of the Riot used open source software to detect, extract, and deduplicate every face from the 827 videos taken from the insurrection on January 6.
Publishing & Media
Naver’s $600 million buy-out of Wattpad should be a wake-up call for western publishers who still don’t “get” online reading
Wattpad’s 90 million monthly user base now combines with Naver’s 72 million users.
Forbes is launching a newsletter platform that will allow journalists to launch their own paid newsletters and split the revenue with publisher— www.axios.com
Forbes will hire 20–30 writers with big followings to help get the platform up and running.
Audible makes improvement to transparency of audiobook returns — www.thebookseller.com
Audible subsidiary Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) is offering greater transparency on audiobook returns, following pressure from the Society of Authors and the Authors Guild.
Melinda Gates Donates $250,000 to the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction
ICYMI #AmWriting #ReadWomen #AmReading
Maya Angelou Barbie doll launched in US
www.theguardian.com
Mattel adds figure of revered writer to its ‘Inspiring Women’ series alongside Rosa Parks and Florence Nightingale
Today is a good day to support the Free Black Women’s Library — lithub.com
RT @diversebooks What started in 2015 as a popup on a stoop in Bed-Stuy is now a full-fledged mobile collection that houses over 3,000 books by Black women.
Spotify is paying podcasters tens of thousands of dollars to buoy its own sponsorship tool — www.theverge.com
RT @michellemanafy Nine podcasters tell The Verge the same story: Anchor’s sponsorship feature seems to be seriously lacking in sponsors
Spotify announces an exclusive podcast deal with filmmaker Ava DuVernay — techcrunch.com
Bonnie Fuller Assumes Full Ownership of Hollywood Life — variety.com
Bonnie Fuller, President and Editor-in-Chief of Hollywood Life, will buy-out PMC’s stake in the company and assume full ownership.
Hearst, Idle Get Cozy with Country Living Mattresses — www.licenseglobal.com
Home furnishings firm Idle Group has launched its first-ever mattress collaboration with Hearst Magazines, beginning w Country Living. Idle Group will roll out mattress brands for House Beautiful, Men’s Health, & Women’s Health in 2021. #magazines
Resources & Opportunities
Bernie sitting Meme Generator
Probably too late — but still fun!
Puzzle Party — Google Arts & Culture — artsandculture.google.com
Cool! HT @neilperkin A lovely experiment from the Google Arts team — solve artistic jigsaw puzzles together online with your family and friends.
A year after fire, Museum of Chinese in America launches digital platform with Google to celebrate its historical treasures
HT @paulkbiba A year after fire, viewers can track the recovery after the blaze and view hundreds of images of the New York museum’s artifacts
Apply to United States Digital Service
MT @USDS We are a startup at the White House working to deliver better government services to the American people through technology and design. The best of technology. The best of government. And we want you. Let’s help millions of people together.
Supporting the NCTE’s 2021 Early Career Educator of Color Award
Calling teachers of color in the first 5 years of their career supporting literacy: NCTE’s 2021 Early Career Educator of Color Award #InsidePenguinRandom #teamPRH
It Takes Two: The Author and the Agent — pen.org
The ins and outs of literary representation can be difficult to decipher. Join PEN America for a free workshop on an inside look at a literary agent’s role.
SCBWI Disability Fund Application
RT @scbwi Our first-ever #GivingTuesday drive raised $3,013.23! 100% of that will go to funding disabled #kidlit creators through the #SCBWIDisability Fund. Fund app is open to members and nonmembers until FEB 15. Thank you to everyone who donated!
Women’s Media Group — Free, Member’s Only, New Year Networking Ball (Rescheduled)
www.womensmediagroup.org
Ready to send off stress-aplenty 2020? Join WMG for a one-of-a-kind virtual party to kick off 2021 with flair! This past year was chockfull of challenges, but we pulled through together to host 30+ virtual events and welcome 60+ new members. Come celebrate with us, get to know your new fellow members, and reconnect with old friends. We’ll have guided breakout rooms with festive themes for intimate networking, contests for Best Zoom Décor and Most Creative Cocktail or Mocktail, and we’ll be naming a Belle of the Ball. So, feel free to dress to impress…without having to leave the comfort of your home!
Galentine’s/Valentine’s Day 2021 — Molly Oliver Flowers
Know a phenomenal woman in NYC or CT? Send her a #GalentinesDaylocally-sourced bouquet, plant, hanging macrame, or flower arranging class from Mary Oliver Flowers and support @WMG_NYC scholarships! Order today!