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If you’re expecting to get updates from celebrities on all their latest movies, you might be disappointed: Hollywood is trying to curb celebrity use of social networks.

It is believed that Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers are among the first celebrities to be affected by a reportedly new anti-social-media clause included in talent contracts from major studios, according to entertainment news reports.

But just how far those measures have gone is unknown. Some entertainment blogs are reporting that studios are requesting an outright ban of social-networking use by celebrities. Others say that studios are simply trying to curb their use. At this point, it’s not so clear–and the film studios aren’t talking.

A Hollywood Reporter blog post recently reported that “there’s a growing number of studio deals with new language aimed specifically at curbing usage of social-media outlets by actors, execs and other creatives.” The studios hope confidential information about the films they’re producing won’t leak out on major social networks.

The Hollywood Reporter, Esq. blog reports that both Disney and DreamWorks have already added clauses to their talent contracts. A clause from Disney says that the actor should not make information available “via ‘interactive media such as Facebook, Twitter, or any other interactive social network or personal blog.’”

That said, neither DreamWorks nor Disney has confirmed that such a clause exists. Diaz and Myers have also been mum on their use of social networks. Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DreamWorks said, “It’s our policy not to discuss talent agreements.”

In the end, it’s not all that surprising that the film industry is targeting social media. Earlier this year, the National Football League made its social-media policy public. That policy banned tweeting prior, during, and after a game for all players, coaches, referees, and media on-hand.

But whether targeting social networks is really the right move is up for debate. The Hollywood Reporter said that the new clauses might have been a reaction to leaks by celebrities tweeting information before it was supposed to come out. Paula Abdul, the publication said, announced her decision on Twitter to leave “American Idol,” surprising Fox executives. Hollywood is trying to limit such leaks going forward.

It’s understandable. And Hollywood has always limited what the talent can say about films. But is social media really the best target? Is it not a fine promotional tool? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Excerpt from:
Movie studios curbing actors’ use of social media

A voice chat application launched on Monday in open beta enables Facebook users to place and receive calls within the social network.

Vivox Voice in action.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Vivox, which also provides voice services for online virtual words and accommodates more than 15 million users worldwide, is offering the app.

In order to use it, Facebook users first need to add Vivox Voice to their applications list and download a Vivox plug-in. From there, a Vivox channel and phone number are created to accept calls. Users can then place calls to (or receive calls from) Facebook friends also using the app. And because each Vivox channel has a call-in number, non-Facebook users can also participate in the conversation.

In order to invite friends to talk, an invitation is sent via Facebook chat. The recipient can click on the included link and start chatting with the other person.

I had the opportunity to use the app this morning. Overall, I was impressed by it. The installation took just a few minutes, and connecting with others was quick and easy.

The only issue I had with Vivox’s Facebook app was its audio quality. At times, the transmission was clear. At other times, I could barely hear my wife, who was on the other end of the call. Luckily, those moments were few and far between.

If you try it out, let us know what you think of the free app in the comments below.

Source:
Voice chat app Vivox comes to Facebook

If you have a picture of yourself, why not put it to good use? With the help of some online resources, you can do all kinds of neat things to it. You can even put it on greeting cards, avatars for your Twitter profile, and more.

If you’re planning to put your picture to use, do it with these sites.

Say cheese

BeFunky BeFunky is a neat way to create pictures that you typically don’t find on the Web.

When you first make your way to the free site, you’ll be able to choose the kind of effect it will apply to your picture. I was really impressed by the number of options it offered. Everything from stenciling to creating an Andy Warhol-like picture was included in the options.

BeFunky gives you the option to upload a picture from your computer or take a snapshot from your Webcam. When you’re satisfied with the design, you can add artwork behind your image, include some text, and more. My picture took just a few seconds to create. And thanks to some nice share options, syndicating it to sites like Facebook and MySpace was quick and easy. Not bad for a free service.

BeFunky lets you do interesting things to pictures.

(Credit: Screenshot by Caroline McCarthy/CNET)

FACEinHOLE If you’re the kind of person who goes to an area fair and sticks your head in a picture hole, you’ll love FACEinHOLE.

To use FACEinHOLE, you’ll need to register for the site. From there, you can pick a “scenario” that ranges from Halloween costumes to movies and television. You can also create your own scenario to put your portrait into.

In essence, FACEinHOLE shows you a picture and lets you modify it to get it to fit perfectly in the face hole. I tried it out on several images. For the most part, the uploading process was quick and easy. But as I started editing the image, I found it difficult to accurately place my face in the hole. It took away from the service. That said, I did like that FACEinHOLE allows you to share your image across the Web. You can even put it on a shirt. It’ll run you $19.99 to do that.

FACEinHOLE makes it difficult to place your photo in the right spot.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

JibJab JibJab is one of the most prominent services in this space. And with so many features, it’s also one of the best products you’ll use.

After you create an account on JibJab, you have the option of putting your face into the several videos and e-cards you can send to friends through the site. A paid account costing $9.99 per year allows you to track video views, schedule an e-mail to be sent at a later time, and more, but I think a free account is sufficient for most users.

Finding free clips to personalize is difficult on JibJab. For the most part, you’ll be forced to pay the company’s fee just to create a video. But once you do find a free option, you’ll find that the picture-uploading process takes just seconds. From there, you’ll be presented with several customization features that make it easy to fit your head into the video. After you’re done, you can preview the video and send it to recipients. I was really impressed by how well JibJab kept my face in the picture. Check it out.

JibJab lets you easily adjust your head.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

MagMyPic MagMyPic is so simple that it’s a must-see for anyone who wants to create something unique.

MagMyPic is a simple site: upload a picture, pick a magazine cover to put the picture in, and you’re all set. You can also edit your picture to make it fit properly in the frame. MagMyPic features five pages worth of magazine covers on everything from marriage to sports.

When I uploaded a picture of my puppy to the service, I was surprised by just how quickly I was able to get the desired magazine cover ready. I uploaded the image in seconds, moved it where I wanted it to be, and picked a cover. That’s it. From there, I was given the option of saving it to my desktop, sharing it on Twitter or Facebook, and embedding it into a blog. I really liked MagMyPic. Even better, it’s free.

That's my dog on the cover of a magazine.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Simpsonize Me Simpsonize Me is a site that any “Simpsons” fan should check out. It takes your portrait and turns into a Simpsons-like character.

Simpsonize Me, which is a free service that’s operated by Burger King, takes no time to get your portrait ready to be Simpsonized. In my experience, my photo was ready to go within about 40 seconds. From there, you need to choose your gender, age, dress style, facial hair, and hair style. The tool then pumps out a depiction of your picture based on the information you provided.

I was a little disappointed with my Simpsons’ portrait. I’m not convinced that it accurately reflected the picture I uploaded. That said, the post-upload options it featured did help me customize the portrait a bit. Still, it would have been nice if it were a bit more accurate. I should also note that the site is buggy. It took me three tries just to get it to work.

Simpsonize Me turns you into a Simpsons character.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

TalkingPhoto PQDVD’s TalkingPhoto is a unique service that’s designed to get a chuckle out of someone.

After you upload a photo to TalkingPhoto, you need to arrange the six points on the right spot to ensure the service works as planned. Once complete, you can set the animation in motion. You’ll see your portrait with a voice that says over a dozen different things, depending on the script you pick. You can choose between holiday songs, a Mother’s Day greeting, and more. Once you’re happy with your animation, it’s “published.” You can then send it to the desired recipients for free.

TalkingPhoto is an interesting service. Getting a photo ready for the animation takes just a few seconds, but once it runs, it tends to be a little off unless you have an image that directly faces the camera. The points also need to be correct. If not, it won’t work so well. In my case, my image was just a little too far off for it to work perfectly. It wasn’t a major issue, but it did detract somewhat from the service.

After you upload a photo to TalkingPhoto, you need to arrange the six points on the right spot to ensure the service works as planned.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

My top 3

1. JibJab: It’s one of the oldest services in this roundup, but it’s also the best service in this roundup. Check it out.

2. MagMyPic: MagMyPic is such a unique service, it deserves a top spot.

3. BeFunky: With so many neat ways to transform a picture, BeFunky is worth trying out.

Read the original post:
Fun ways to transform your face online

Although some of us remember life before computers and the Internet, there’s a new generation of children who don’t. From an early age, they’re on PCs, playing games, and in many cases, learning about the Internet.

That’s why it’s so important to safeguard your children while they’re surfing the Web. The Internet can be a scary place, but these resources will help keep the bad stuff away:

Glubble Glubble bills itself as a family “social network” and browser. Although I’m not entirely convinced that it’s a social network, it does do a fine job of ensuring your kids stay safe online.

Glubble lets you upload content like photos, videos, or special moments for your family to see. But where it shines is in controlling what your kids can do on the Web. All the sites they can browse are approved by you. Whenever they go to different sites, it’s recorded so you can see what your kids are up to when they use the computer. Glubble provides your kids with several activities, including games and puzzles. It’s a nice app for both the family and the children.

Set up your kids in Glubble.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Kido’z Kido’z is an Adobe AIR application that safeguards your children as they browse the Web. But unlike normal browsers, Kido’z determines what your kids can and cannot view.

After you download Kido’z, you’ll be brought to a page showing icons for a handful of popular franchises for children, including Mickey Mouse, Dora the Explorer, and others. When you click on one of those options, you’ll be brought to the subject’s respective Web page within the app. You can click around as you would if you were using Firefox. Kido’z works well and it will help keep your kids safe from some of the Web’s dangers.

Choose between these services to help keep your kids safe.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

KidZui KidZui is a safe Web browser for kids. Once the extension is activated by a parent, the child will be locked-down to specific, KidZui-approved Web sites. It also takes up the entire screen, so kids can’t go wandering on your PC and mess things up. Only the password, which is chosen by the parent, will remove KidZui from the screen. Overall, KidZui is a great way to keep your kids safe and entertained while on the Web. (For our full review, click here.)

Kids can browse the Web, see photos, and more with KidZui.

(Credit: KidZui)

LinkExtend LinkExtend is a Firefox add-on that’s designed to keep anyone, not just kids, safe online by analyzing Web sites and alerting you when there are potentially dangerous issues with the site.

But where LinkExtend comes in handy for parents is through its KidSafe feature. That simple feature tells you whether or not a site is suitable for children, based on several considerations, including vulgar terms, the site’s content, and more. The feature uses a variety of services to help it determine the site’s child-safety rating, including Google SafeSearch and Web of Trust, another well-respected Firefox extension. LinkExtend’s KidSafe option is perfect for any parent who wants to make sure a site is suitable for their children.

LinkExtend has some great features for parents.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

PikLuk PikLuk is designed to keep your kids safe both online and with their e-mail accounts. It does that by requiring you to decide all the sites your children will be able to access. You can also decide who they can correspond with over e-mail.

When you first get to PikLuk, you’ll need to create a parent account. From that dashboard, you can pick all the Web sites your kids will be allowed to see. You can also create a PikLuk e-mail address and block access to and from that address to everyone but the white-listed users you assign. It works well. And since you have total control over what your kids can do on the Web, you’ll have some peace of mind with PikLuk.

Pikluk lets you manage and monitor your child's access to the Web.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Totlol Totlol is an online video site that’s powered by YouTube, but is moderated to provide a fun, educational video environment for children.

After you sign up for the site (you can’t view videos without registering), you can let your children take over the mouse and start picking videos they want to view. All the videos come from YouTube, but thanks to moderators, you won’t need to worry about anything adult-oriented slipping through. I found that the majority of videos stick to animals, but there is some educational content on the site. In either case, it’s a fine alternative to YouTube. Just beware that TotLOL doesn’t have nearly as many videos as the popular social video site. In fact, its list of clips is a little small for my liking. I should also note that it charges a membership fee for access to videos. The fees were first instituted back in July as a way for the company to stay afloat, rather than close shop.

Totlol features several videos for kids to watch.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

ZuiTube ZuiTube, which is owned by the aforementioned KidZui, is essentially a child-friendly YouTube.

When you get to ZuiTube, you’ll notice that you can view videos without registering for the site. It’s one of the biggest problems with Totlol and it makes ZuiTube far more appealing than its main competitor. Overall, I was impressed with ZuiTube’s selection of clips. It gathers them from YouTube. They include movies, television shows, music videos, and more. They all provide outstanding quality. If you want your kids to enjoy online videos without worrying about them finding inappropriate content, ZuiTube is for them.

ZuiTube is the best child-friendly video site tested.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

My top 3

1. KidZui: If you want a great browsing experience, KidZui is for you.

2. Kido’Z: The Adobe AIR application is outstanding.

3. ZuiTube: If you want your kids to be entertained, ZuiTube is the site to check out.

See more here:
Tools to keep your kids safe online

If you’re trying to learn how to play an instrument, you might be thinking about hiring a local tutor. After all, it’s the way it has always been done. But you might be surprised to learn that the Web is a great place to learn how to play that instrument.

Start playing

All Guitar Chords It’s a simple app, but All Guitar Chords provides you with a full listing of all the guitar chords you might want to learn. Simply pick the chord you want, click the “Get” button, and it will display where to put your fingers. It’s not the best tutorial app in this roundup, but it works better than you might expect. It’s a simple and efficient tutor.

All Guitar Chords will help you learn how to play the guitar.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Chordbook Chordbook is the place to go if you want to learn how to play guitar. The Flash-based site displays guitar strings. You can then choose which chord you want to play. Upon doing so, it automatically places circles on the guitar strings to help you learn proper placement of your fingers. When you’re ready to learn a chord, you can click the “strum” button and it will play a chord to help you determine what your guitar should sound like when you play. If you’re beginner, Chordbook is the place to be.

Chordbook will help you learn how to play the guitar.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Drums Database Drums Database lists a variety of different tutorials that you can access based on your skill level. When you find what you’re looking for, the site sends you to a video on the Web showing you how to perform that particular lesson. Sometimes, the videos are gathered from YouTube. Other links send you to how-to videos across the Web. I was extremely impressed by the number of lessons included in its database. You will be too.

The Drums Database has any lesson you might be looking for.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Guitar Tricks Guitar Tricks is a well-designed site that helps you learn how to play guitar through online videos.

Guitar Tricks has a variety of lessons for those looking to play any kind of guitar, including electric, acoustic, or bass. You’ll be able to learn how to play songs in several genres, including bluegrass and metal. According to the site, it has over 3,000 lessons available. But to see tutorials from advanced instructors, you’ll need to pay $12.95 per month for access. The site also offers a free, basic version, but that only provides you with 12 instructors and 24 sample lessons. If you’re serious about learning how to play guitar, Guitar Tricks might be a good place to start.

You'll have quite a few options on Guitar Tricks.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

iPerform3D iPerform3D features a variety of free lessons for beginners. But where it shines is in its paid content, which makes it extremely easy to learn how to play both guitar and drums.

What makes iPerform3D so compelling is its 3D element. It shows a virtual character playing the drums or guitar, while instructing you on where to place your hands. As the character plays, you can mimic those movements to replicate what’s happening on-screen. It’s a great site. And for $11 to $20 per month, depending upon the membership plan you pick, it’s relatively affordable. (If you want to learn more about iPerform3D check out our full review.)

Besides virtual characters, iPerform3D also features beginners' videos.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

TakeLessons TakeLessons is a search engine for finding music instructors. The site asks you to input the instrument you want to learn, as well as your location. It then finds other TakeLessons users who are also certified instructors in your area. You can set up appointments online and pay them through the service. The site also provides you with a phone number, if you’d rather call your instructor to set something up. TakeLessons guarantees those lessons, so it might be a better option than looking for tutors in the newspaper.

TakeLessons will help you learn how to play an instrument.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

VirtualDrumming If you’re looking to learn how to play the drums, VirtualDrumming will show you how a variety of simple to advanced beats are played. You can then mimic those movements to play those beats yourself.

When you choose to try out a drum lesson on the site, you can start with basics, like coordination and drumstick control. When you choose an option, you can set the tutorial into motion, which displays how to play a particular beat on your own set. If you follow those beats, you should be on your way to learning how to play the drums. Once you get past the basics, VirtualDrumming teaches you advanced rhythms. Since it’s free, it’s worth considering.

Virtual Drumming will help you learn to play the drums.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

My top 3

1. iPerform3D: It’s too cool and too useful not to give it the top spot.

2. Chordbook: It’s a simple app, but Chordbook is highly useful.

3. Drums Database: With so many lessons available, it’s perfect for the beginner drummer.

View original post here:
Learn how to play an instrument online