AOL launches ad-sponsored digital TV...

America Online has launched its new digital video service in conjunction with Time Warner. The online television network called In2TV is accessible on the web with any browser or from AOL's home page; however, the service is only available to US viewers using Windows users, as licensing restricts geographical viewing and the underlying Windows Media Player 10 technology is only available to Windows users. Touted as "the first" broadband television network, it offers free, ad-sponsored, on-demand TV shows on the Web, including full episodes of popular programs from the past 40 years such as Welcome Back, Kotter, Chico & The Man, Alice, Growing Pains, Sisters, Kung Fu, Lois & Clark and many others; it also features interactive features and viral videos that enable audiences to experience and interact with television programming in what the companies says is "an entirely new way."

Exclusive iTunes podcasts by Jack Black...

Jack Black, the star of Paramount Pictures' "Nacho Libre," will take audiences behind the scenes with exclusive "confessionals" about what it was like to make the upcoming comedy "Nacho Libre" in a series of video podcasts debuting at Apple's iTunes Music Store and QuickTime.com. Beginning March 15th and continuing for 10 weeks, leading up to the release of the film, new podcasts will appear every Tuesday and Thursday, downloadable free of charge for the video iPod. The film, which opens in theaters nationwide on June 2, stars Black as Ignacio (affectionately known as as "Nacho"), a cook by day in a Mexican orphanage, who moonlights as a Lucha Libre wrestler to raise money for the orphans. The comedy is from the creators of "Napoleon Dynamite" and the writer of "The School of Rock."

iTunes raises price of full-length movie

Apple has raised the price of its only known full-length film available on its iTunes Music Store, High School Musical, from the standard $1.99 up to $9.99. Several reports yesterday noted the existence of the Disney movie, and some industry watchers say the movie may signal an attempt to test the waters before Apple officially delves into offering full-length feature films via its online store. In late February, analysts began speculating that Apple might debut its first full-length film on iTunes. February 28th brought the company's special event, but it failed to produce the expected service to the disappointment of many. A study surfaced just days later from a California-based market research firm that asked participants numerous questions related to a potential "iTunes movie service" which would provide on-demand access to movies, further suggesting that Apple is planning to unveil full-length feature film downloads in the near future.

Tunewear debuts Sienna cases for iPod

Tunewear has announced the new [sienna] series of high quality nappa leather cases for iPod video and iPod nano. Now available, the sienna series adds a new variation on its popular PRIE Ambassador, Prie Tunewallet and Prie Tunetag series. As with theprevious models, the Sienna series is made from high quality smooth nappa leather, while it says that the Rich Caramel color is "perfectly suited to both casual and formal occasions." All models in the Sienna range include Tunefilm, a clear protective film that covers the front and back of the iPod for extra protection. The Prie Ambassador sienna features a removable hook for attachment to a belt loop or strap or can be worn with your own strap to hang Prie Ambassador sienna around the neck or shoulder. The 5G version is $50, while the Nano version is $40.