Categories
News

Could the new Barnes & Noble Nook be called the Nook Glow or Nook Shine?

Nook Shine

NOOK Tablet

Late last month, it was reported that Barnes & Noble would be introducing a new Nook this spring. 

Although very little is known about the successor to the Nook Tablet, some interesting domain names were privately registered on February 13, 2012 with CSC Global, a company that helps protect many of the world’s best global brands in part by registering and managing thousands of domain names.

The domains registered were NookGlow.com (Whois) and NookShine.com (Whois). 

Additional names that were registered on the same day include: NookUniverse.com, NookTabletPen.com, and TheNookTabletPen.com.

The names currently resolve to a blank web page at the time of this story.

While the registrant of each domain is listed as Corporation Service Company, it’s pretty safe to say that Barnes & Noble is behind each name, as CSC specializes in domain, trademark, and brand services. 

For now though, the name of the next Nook device will remain speculation until Barnes & Noble makes an official announcement.

[Updated on March 2, 2012:. It appears Barnes & Noble has acquired NookLabs.com according to Whois records.]

Discussion: gadgetell

(Image of Jane Lynch holding Nook Tablet via BarnesandNoble.com)

Categories
News

Apple.com domain name will celebrate its 25th Anniversary this month

Apple.com domain name

On February 19th, the domain name Apple.com will celebrate its 25th Anniversary.

The domain was created on February 19th, 1987, nearly two years after the first and oldest .com domain name on the internet “Symbolics.com” was registered, and just over ten years after Apple Inc. was founded.

Today, Apple.com is one of the most visited sites on the internet, ranking in the top 50 sites of the world, according to Alexa.

Apple hasn’t announced anything about the upcoming anniversary, so it’s not certain whether the company will be holding any kind of celebration.

Other domain names like Unisys.com, which was registered on December 11, 1986, have recently celebrated their 25th birthday without much fanfare. 

Apple.com ranks at #64 in the Top 100 oldest registered .com domains. 

Other domains owned by well-known companies that will celebrate their 25th anniversary this year include: cisco.com, dupont.com, and lockheed.com.

A full list of the top 100 oldest domain names can be seen on iWhois.

Categories
News Video Games

THQ acquires DeathLives.com domain name, points it to Darksiders web page

Darksiders II

Darksiders II

The Horseman Death is the main character for the upcoming action adventure video game Darksiders 2 by Vigil Games and THQ.

Now it looks like THQ will be stepping up its marketing in anticipation of the game’s launch this June.

According to Whois records, THQ has acquired the domain name DeathLives.com for an undisclosed amount.  Just this week, the domain switched from Domains by Proxy, Inc. (Go Daddy’s Whois privacy service) to THQ, Inc.

Today, the web address points to the Darksiders home page on darksiders.com.

THQ has been using the catch-phrase “Death Lives” in press releases, videos and other marketing materials, to draw attention to Darksiders 2. 

In a Developer Diary released last month, the team behind the game discussed why Death was chosen as the character.

You can watch the video below.

Categories
Movies News

Paramount registers domain names as talks over Katy Perry movie continue

Katy Perry movie

The Hollywood Reporter reported in late January that Paramount Pictures and Katy Perry were in talks about creating a documentary-style 3D film.

Although only in the early stages, Paramount Pictures must be fairly confident that a deal will be struck.

On February 9, 2012, the movie studio registered a handful of domain names for possible movie titles like KatyPerrymovie.com and KatyPerryCaliforniaGurlmovie.com.

In total, Paramount Pictures registered five domains.

http://whois.domaintools.com/katyperrycaliforniagurl.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/katyperrycaliforniagurlmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/katyperrymovie.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/katyperrypartofme.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/katyperrypartofmemovie.com 

At the time of this story, none of the domains resolve to a web page.

(Image of California Gurls music video via KatyPerry.com)

Categories
News Trademarks Video Games

Crowdstar working on next unannounced game called Modern Girl [UPDATED]

Modern Girl by Crowdstar

[UPDATED:. Crowdstar released Modern Girl on March 6, 2012.]

**

Original story:

Mobile social gaming company Crowdstar appears to be working on its next iOS “Girl” game called Modern Girl.

In a filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 6, 2012, Crowdstar Inc. filed to trademark “Modern Girl by Crowdstar”.

The goods and services covered in the trademark filing (Serial Number: 85534912) include:

Downloadable computer game software for use on wireless devices and computers; computer-game software, video game software, and computer game application software; interactive-video-game programs; electronic game software and electronic game application software that may be accessed via the Internet, computers and wireless devices; computer software to enable uploading, posting, showing, displaying, tagging, blogging, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information regarding the fields of virtual communities, electronic gaming, entertainment and general interest via the Internet or other communications networks with third parties

Crowdstar’s Social Girl which launched in December 2011, snagged a million downloads in its first week of going live.

At the time of this story, Crowdstar has made no announcement about Modern Girl.

The trademark filing for Modern Girl comes at a peculiar time.  The same week Crowdstar submitted the application, Apple warned developers not to manipulate App Store rankings.