Diverse Tech Geek
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Diverse Tech Geek is a blog about media and technology. Topics covered include comics, animation, technology news/tips, and diversity issues. Follow this blog for more updates.
Diverse Tech Geek
1d ago
Comics retailer and analyst Brian Hibbs has released his annual report on the state of 2023 book channel graphic novel and manga sales.
Overall, graphic novel sales were still strong. However, for the top 750 graphic novels, unit sales are down almost 20% from 2022 sales, while sales by dollar amounts are down by about 7%. (For all books sold, unit sales are down 15%, while dollar amounts are down 6%.) Though it’s less people turning on comics and more the overall decline in some product sales since the pandemic’s peak several years ago, plus a slight decline in manga sales (Western comics are ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
4d ago
Over the past year or so, I’ve resumed buying DVDs and Blu-rays (and ripping them on my computer to my own media server) as an alternative to paying for a few expensive streaming services, such as (HBO) Max and Netflix. (Or buying digital rights management (DRM)-encumbered digital videos.) However, fewer places now sell physical media versus before the “streaming wars” kicked off.
Back in January, I wrote about a few places I buy DVDs and Blu-rays. I thought I’d expand on such with a dedicated post.
Amazon
Given the decline in retail sales, shopping for DVDs/Blu-rays online is increasingly bec ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
1w ago
Back in 2019, I bought a sixth-generation, entry-level iPad, replacing the several Android/Fire tablets I used through the 2010s. At the time, I was tired of the mediocre quality of most Android tablets (the software, the OS, and/or the physical tablet itself), so I thought I’d give Apple’s famous tablet a go. While the iPad’s worked fine, it’s started to greatly show its age over the past year or so; the 32GB of storage has definitely become problematic. Also, it’s likely to lose new iPadOS system updates from Apple either this year or next year (more likely the former). Overall, it’s clearly ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
1w ago
The “fediverse,” the decentralized, federated social media world (powered by the ActivityPub protocol) has seen some recent changes. Threads, Meta’s attempt at a Twitter-like text-based social network, has now opened its app (as a beta) to the fediverse as an optional setting. Once activated (instructions here), Threads users’ accounts will be visible on ActivityPub-based social networks such as Mastodon. That said, Threads federating has generated much controversy on Mastodon, to the point some Mastodon instances have blocked federating with (i.e. access from) Threads.
Among the Threads users ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
1w ago
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has released its annual statistics on US music revenue for 2023. Below are my thoughts on this year’s report.
Overall, music revenue grew by 8% from 2022 to a record high (not adjusting for inflation) of $17.1 billion.
Here’s a chart summarizing 2023 US music revenue. The full report is available here.
Source: RIAADigital formats
As usual, streaming is the dominant music format, making up 84% of all revenue ($14.4 billion).
“Old-school” digital downloads (i.e. buying MP3s from Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon, etc.) continues to be a shrinking porti ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
2w ago
This week, Disney officially launched (after several months of beta testing) Disney+ with Hulu integrated. To summarize the new setup:
Subscribers to the Disney Bundle (Disney+ and Hulu; ESPN+ optional) will be able to use the new version of Disney+. Those only subscribed to Disney+ can see the new Hulu tile/its content, but won’t be able to watch Hulu stuff unless they upgrade. Of course, Disney plans to push the Bundle harder.
Disney+ and Hulu will remain standalone services. Hulu-only customers who don’t want Disney+ can continue using Hulu as-is; nothing will change. Ditto those who only ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
3w ago
Here’s a look at what media of interest is coming out for April 2024 (and beyond).
Graphic novels/manga
Moriarty the Patriot, vol. 15 (Viz), on sale April 2, $12
Teen Titans: Starfire GN (DC Comics), on sale July 2, $17
Disney+
A full list is available here.
Wish, April 3
Peacock
A full list is available here.
Migration, April 19
Sports
NBA Finals playoffs, starting April 20 (ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV)
NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, starting April 22 (various channels)
My thoughts “Migration.” (Illumination)
DC’s continuing its Teen Titans graphic novel series with a volume for Starfire. Good ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
3w ago
Time again for another blog status update post.
Dropping Google ads (again)
For those visiting my site with their ad blocker turned off, you’ll notice I’ve turned off Google ads, at least for now. Google’s own downsides aside, there’s also that the amount of revenue from Google ads has declined, even by my meager standards. I’d sometimes meet Google’s $100 minimum payout level about once a year (if lucky). However, at the current rate, I wasn’t meeting even that. Thus, I figured I’d save on the site code/load speed and ditch Google’s ads for now.
If interested in supporting my site financially ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
3w ago
The 2024 NAACP Image Awards was held last week. The awards, of course, honor African Americans in media, including movies, television, and music. Below, I look at this year’s animation-related nominees and winners. Winners are in bold; animation/comic related entries are in italics.
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Elemental (Pixar Animation Studios)
Trolls Band Together (Dreamworks Animation)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount Pictures)
Wish (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Outstanding Character Voice–Over P ..read more
Diverse Tech Geek
1M ago
The 2024 Academy Awards (aka the Oscars) were held this Sunday. Below, I take my annual look at the animation-related Oscar winners, plus other Oscar thoughts.
Animated Feature Film
The Boy and The Heron (winner)
Elemental
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Animated Short Film
War Is Over: Inspired By The Music of John and Yoko (winner)
Letter to a Pig
Ninety Five Senses
Our Uniform
Pachyderme
My thoughts “The Boy and the Heron.” (Studio Ghibli)
As usual, I didn’t bother tuning in for the Oscars. To summarize from last year’s post the reasons why:
I’m only really inte ..read more