american idol

Peel pivots, updates free iPhone app with interactive TV show polling

Last year Peel set out to redefine the remote-control space with a $99 fruit-shaped device that allowed you use your iPhone as a remote for changing channels and discovering TV shows. The Silicon-Valley based company got a lot of attention but the device didn't exactly set the market on fire. So Peel's shifting gears, adding a new interactive polling feature to its free app that will debut with this week's "American Idol."

The idea is pretty simple. As contestants perform, users will be able "cheer" or "boo" during performances by clicking … Read more

Timberlake to turn MySpace into online 'Idol'?

For those who live for seeing someone rise from obscurity to reach the heights of temporary fame, seeing "American Idol" once a year just isn't enough.

In any case, it's only on two nights a week. What are you supposed to do with the other five? Pray that Simon Cowell's new show "The X Factor" will somehow be entertaining?

It seems that Justin Timberlake, he who is one of the new purchasers of MySpace, is at one with human feelings.

For, according to the Associated Press, Timberlake's manager, Johnny Smith, said after … Read more

How online tools spoil reality show secrets

For the producers of a reality show like "The Amazing Race," the headaches probably don't get much bigger than those caused by the TAR Detectives.

A global, loosely formed group of sleuths dedicated to uncovering and publicly revealing spoilers about TAR, or "The Amazing Race," the detectives have proven what the producers of any number of reality shows have learned: It's nearly impossible to keep what happens during filming a secret from those determined to find out.

And thanks to the growing number of online and social-media tools available, and the vast numbers of … Read more

Will 'American Idol' be wrecked by Auto-Tune affair?

I know that so many readers are huge fans of reality television, especially reality television in which previously unknown people attempt to sing.

So it pains me to bring news that might dull the world's enthusiasm for such pageants, perhaps permanently.

You see, there is a show called "X-Factor." Currently it runs in the U.K., but it is soon to debut in the U.S. It is one of the several shows which has, at its core, the celebrated critic and music mogul Simon Cowell, formerly of "American Idol."

Last Saturday, "X-Factor" … Read more

'American Idol' dumps Sony, aligns with UMG

"American Idol," the juggernaut talent show that has dominated TV ratings the past nine seasons, has signed a new distribution and marketing deal with Universal Music Group, the largest of the top four record companies.

Yes, this story isn't exactly technology-centric, but the partnership between UMG and Simon Fuller, the creator of "American Idol," could impact download sales for two of the four biggest major recording companies.

The show, to date, has sold more than 120 million iTunes downloads and has helped launch the careers of such music stars as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and … Read more

The Audiophillie Music Award winners write, perform, and record their tunes

Move over "American Idol," the Audiophillie Music Awards for Excellence in Recorded Sound contest winners are way more talented. They don't just sing--they play instruments, write, and record their own tunes.

Zachary LeFeber's band Magnet South entered "Move On," and I'm glad they did. Zach's the drummer and a very talented audio engineer. A nice fella by the name of Matthew Winner handled vocals and guitar. Magnet South has a blog, where you can see how the music takes shape. The band has been together for two and a half years, but they have real jobs so they haven't played around all that much. Zach recorded "Move On" in his house, using a Sonar digital workstation. He considers himself something of an audiophile, so I wasn't surprised to hear he's getting into vinyl.

Alan Carter wasn't planning on entering the contest, but he had just bought a new Woodpecker ribbon microphone and wanted to record something to try it out. He used the new mic to record everything but the lead vocal and guitar on "Georgia," which was written and sung by Phil Palma. Alan's studio partner Jake played electric guitar; Phil was on acoustic guitar; and Alan played bass.

Alan works for Sweetwater Sound and sells equipment to recording studios,--no wonder "Georgia" sounds so fine. The song was recorded to half-inch analog tape, and, obviously, I didn't know that when I first picked it as a winner. Alan feels that even the best digital recordings never sound as sweet as analog. That's not to say he avoids digital completely--"Georgia" was digitally mixed in Pro Tools, before bouncing it back to analog tape. He concedes there's a lot that you can't do in analog, so he takes a hybrid approach.… Read more

Bill Gates: The next American Idol?

Bill Gates is going on "American Idol."

No, the Microsoft chairman and philanthropist won't be singing on the show. Rather, he and wife Melinda will talk about the importance of giving and the impact it can have.

It's part of the "Idol Gives Back" program, in which the singing competition show raises money for various charitable organizations. The episode airs Wednesday evening on Fox. Two of the beneficiaries--Malaria No More and the United Nations Foundation--are organizations that work closely with the Gates Foundation.

Gates noted recently on Twitter that he had met with Seacrest … Read more

The 404 561: Where Anna David tells us why Reality Matters (podcast)

Established author, frequent guest, and friend of The 404 Anna David joins us on today's episode to accomplish two very specific goals:

Talk about her new book "Reality Matters," a collection of essays penned by a handpicked pack of storytellers that examine our obsession with reality television. Drag Justin's name through the mud.

As an exclusive treat for our live chat room, this morning's pre-show (and a good quarter of the actual show) features some of the tallest tales ever to fly out of Jeff and Wilson's loose mouths. Don't believe the stories these kids tell about me; as Albert Einstein once said, "Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds," and I look forward to thanking them in the credits of my first novel, with Anna's expert help of course (after all, Anna's accomplishments as a book editor are well-documented).

"Reality Matters" is Anna's third novel grounded in reality. Her first book, "Party Girl," deals with the nuances of the addiction and recovery process, while "Bought" brings the reader into the world of "paid companionship."

This anthology examines each writer's personal thoughts on shows like "American Idol," "Real Housewives," "Survivor," and The 404's favorite--"The Real World." And it's not at all inflammatory fluff pieces making fun of Snookie's budget pompadour, either. Anna brings together well-known writers like Neil Strauss, Jerry Stahl, and James Frey to take a serious (and sometimes snide) look at the pervasiveness of reality shows on the airwaves and what these individuals can teach us about our role in the REAL real world.

Speaking of which, Anna also tells us a hilarious story lifted from the pages of her own life about an experience trying out for the early days of "The Real World" in San Francisco. Unfortunately the network turned her away for not fitting into one of the show's one-dimensional archetypes, but the real story is the crazed convict that develops a disturbing obsession with Anna as a result of her newfound "fame." Tune in to the show and pick up a copy of "Reality Matters" for more details!

Half an hour of showtime is never enough with Anna, but you can read much more about, her including the schedule of her book readings, speaking engagements, and Red Eye appearances on her personal Web site, and she also offers sex and relationship advice on Annalytical Answers.

If you enjoyed today's episode of The 404 Podcast as much as we did recording it, call us up at 1-866-404-CNET and let us know your thoughts, or you can shoot us an e-mail to the404(at)cnet(dot)com and we'll read it on the air! Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here on Monday!

EPISODE 561 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

2011 Ford Focus RS500 makes global debut

You won't see this Ford video on American Idol. The limited edition Ford Focus RS500 boasts a muscular 345 horsepower Duratec RS 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine with 339 pound-feet of torque.

The unique matte-black "foil" paint finish and matching 19-inch alloy wheels, make the car as flashy as it is fast.

According to a Ford news release, the RS500 is making its global debut at the 2010 Leipzig Motor Show in Germany today. There will only be 500 individually numbered vehicles made for 20 European markets. The RS500 marks the end of production for the current-generation Focus … Read more