Share Your News Tips and Photographs with Mainstream Media

from Digital Inspiration by Amit

Have you witnessed a news story in your area that could interest mainstream media ? Did you capture the scene on a mobile phone or a camera ?

If yes, here are some prominent websites where you can send in those news photos and video clips:

Reuters - You can share your news photographs and videos to Reuters by sending them to pics@reuters.com or upload here. Reuters is not just looking for news events, they are also very interested in offbeat news like a model falling over her huge heels on the catwalk or fans cheering inside the sports stadium.

BBC News - You can send pictures or news video clips to BBC at yourpics@bbc.co.uk . Web cam users can directly record and send a video message to BBC editors here. Other than news images, BBC also accepts images related to both local and global issues as well as just great pictures of your daily lives.

CNN.com - You can send your news videos, audio tips and photos to CNN at ireport@cnn.com. Like Reuters, CNN also accepts non-news events. CNN has an excellent toolkit for amateur citizen journalists to help them quickly learn tricks of the trade - how to capture good video and photographs.

CNN IBN - This is only applicable to events and issues related to India. This popular TV channel airs a separate program featuring content that's supplied by citizen journalists across the country. You can either upload the media files on the CNN IBN website or send your news reports via SMS and MMS messages (CJ to 2622).

Nokia Reporter Toolkit for Citizen Journalists

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Alley Mogul Launches Gilt Groupe, We Get You In

from Silicon Alley Insider by Henry Blodget

Alley mogul Kevin Ryan and friends still had time on their hands after launching five start-ups in the past two years (including this site), so they have launched a sixth: Gilt Groupe (www.gilt.com).  Judging from the early member sign-ups (3,500 in 8 hours), it's a hit.

Gilt runs private sales of high-fashion merchandise at sample-sale prices.  The next sale, for example, will feature the designer Zac Posen. 

The sales are for members only--you have to be invited--but, thankfully, we have some connections here, and we can get (some of) you in.  If you're interested, visit this special SAI referral page and register while you can (Gilt is doing the exclusivity thing and has so far refused to endow us with permanent membership granting capabilities, so hurry).

Gilt Groupe is run by CEO Alexis Maybank (above left), a talented AOL and eBay veteran, and the rest of the management team is equally, well, fabulous (check this page out and see if you disagree).  The company is in the process of raising a major Series A round with premier VCs at a startling valuation, and interest, by all accounts, has been high.

Disclosure: Yes, yes, we know, we're conflicted up the wazoo here.  Gilt's chairman Kevin Ryan is our chairman, Alexis Maybank, Mike Bryzek, and co are basically colleagues, etc.  Whatever.  You want pure objectivity without a hint of favoritism, emotion, or relationship conflict, visit TechCrunch.

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Launch Apps Without Booting Windows Using Phoenix HyperSpace Mini OS [Software]

from Gizmodo by Wilson Rothman

The Windows boot-time backlash is in full effect. BIOS-builder Phoenix Technologies is introducing a mini operating system called HyperSpace that can boot up in seconds in place of Windows, to run e-mail managers, web browsers and other apps. Such a system could prolong battery life by 50%, and would give laptop makers a chance to show off their own personalities, rather than act as mere vessels to the Microsoft experience. There are some catches:

Though the Wired story didn't specifically say it, the applications probably wouldn't be the exact same ones you'd run in Windows. There might be a word processor, but it probably wouldn't be Word.

Lenovos, Dells and Acers of the world can start tailoring computers with HyperSpace functionality to very specific demographics. A student-aimed laptop, for instance, could come with apps like word processing, e-mail and IM preloaded into HyperSpace.

Also, not only is it probably Linux-based, but as one Wired commenter pointed out, it's likely similar to code that experienced software ninjas have been messing around with for years. Some PC makers such as HP and Gateway have offered Windows-free quick-start media players already, though nothing to this degree.

A widespread implementation of HyperSpace across consumer laptops would still be a coup and a half.

Microsoft regards HyperSpace as "outside their sphere of influence," and is not too happy with Phoenix's offering, which adds yet another voice to the already loud chorus of voices complaining about operating-system bloat.

Look out for HyperSpace in laptops starting in mid to late 2008. [Wired Tech Biz] UPDATE: Here's a link to the press release.

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Sexy LG KS20 Now Shipping (At Least For Some) [Smartphones]

from Gizmodo by Wilson Rothman

Europeans get lucky this week, as the Prada successor LG KS20 hits stores in France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy. (What up, UK?) The final specs on this baby are in, and they make us terribly jealous.

It's got 3.6Mbps HSDPA and Wi-Fi B and G, and what looks like a half-way decent web browser. There will be some built-in games and video on demand, video telephony, and a media player that will read MP3, MPEG4, WAV, 3GP, AMR-NB, WMA, AAC, AAC+ and eAAC+. We don't even mind the Windows Mobile 6 part, given the fact that there's a customized interface like the T-Mobile HTC Shadow or the Sprint's HTC Touch.

I suppose the upcoming entry of Verizon's LG Voyager to the US doesn't preclude us from getting a KS20, but the powers that be might not want the competition this early, and LG's relationships with other carriers are not as cuddly. [LG via Akihabara News]

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Lancôme Makes Itself Useful With Unique Magnetic Nail Polish Gadget for Gals

from Gizmodo by Charlie White

Overpriced makeup purveyor Lancôme decided to actually do something innovative for a change rather than just creating fancy containers. The result is a Le Magnetique, nail polish with different-colored magnetic particles mixed in. Here's where Lancôme's specialty, the container, comes into play. While the polish is still wet, hold the container's sleeve next to that goop on your nails, and the shiny metallic particles organize themselves into charming starburst patterns. Those magnetically organized designs are even more noticeable in direct sunlight. Get yourself a bottle for $17 and try it out yourself. Told ya it was overpriced. [All Lacquered Up, via bb Gadgets]

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