Tech 2.0 for Monday, January 21, 2013

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Contributor: Matt Davenport

Email: mdavenport@kpvi.com

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Published: 1/21 1:19 pm

Updated: 1/21 1:26 pm

Video game maker Atari's U.S. operations have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to separate from their French parent company. In a statement, Atari says the move is necessary to secure investments it needs to grow in mobile and digital gaming. Atari, which turned 40 last year, was a videogame pioneer with games like "Pong" and "Centipede," but has changed owners several times amid financial problems. France's Infogrames Entertainment first took a stake in Atari in 2000. It acquired the remaining stake in 2008 and changed its name to Atari S.A. In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York, Atari is seeking approval for $5.25 million in debtor-in-possession financing from private investment firm Tenor Capital Management.

He's launched a new file-sharing website that promises users greater privacy and defies the U.S. prosecutors who accuse him of facilitating massive online piracy. The colorful entrepreneur unveiled the "Mega" site ahead of a lavish gala and news conference at his New Zealand mansion on Sunday night. In Dotcom's typical grandiose style, the launch party featured a tongue-in-cheek re-enactment of the dramatic raid on his home a year earlier, when New Zealand police swooped down in helicopters and nabbed him in a safe room where he was hiding. Dotcom says half a million users registered for Mega in its first 14 hours.

Everyone's favorite Internet meme — the cat video — has hit the big time. Behold the Catdance Film Festival, a one-night celebration of camera-worthy cats at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The five short films featured Saturday night went beyond the typical surprised-kitty or cat-threatens-dog fare popular on YouTube. The Catdance films, culled from submissions by cat lovers across the country, told creative, feline-focused tales. There was the story of an aging Internet cat who can't cope with the loss of fame and "A Cat's Guide to Caring for a Human." Actress AnnaLynne McCord hosted the event, which was dreamt up by the Fresh Step cat-litter brand. Cat fans can watch the films online and vote for their favorite. The winning filmmaker will collect $10,000.

engadget

Atari files for bankruptcy, hopes to survive by selling off Pong and other assets - http://t.co/Vee8fgkA

Jan 21st, 2013 at 4:17am

TheNextWeb

Atari's US business files for bankruptcy, aims to live on with digital and mobile gaming focus http://t.co/h0SOvK10

Jan 21st, 2013 at 0:44am

cnnbrk

Remember Pong? The U.S. arm of #Atari, the iconic video game company that created it, filed for bankruptcy. http://t.co/aUooso9h

Jan 21st, 2013 at 1:19pm

LukeNovell

Researchers Warn: Mega's New Encrypted Cloud Doesn't Keep Its Megasecurity Promises: Kim Dotcom, like every smart founder of a startu...

Jan 21st, 2013 at 1:24pm

WSJ

He's back. And this time he has encryption. Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom launched Mega, a new file-storage site. http://t.co/j48MBXmP

Jan 21st, 2013 at 3:54am

BBCWorld

Kim Dotcom sets up new file-sharing website #Mega a year after #Megaupload was shut down by authorities http://t.co/pVgBu51Q

Jan 20th, 2013 at 1:44am

JamesRPTX

Um, why did nobody tell me about The CatDance Film Festival before now? http://t.co/jVll3Xey

Jan 21st, 2013 at 11:19am

ThomasJeffries3

Catdance Film Festival elevates cat video to #Sundance level - http://t.co/nVilo6Ia Catdance Film Festival elevates cat video to #Sundance level - http://t.co/nVilo6Ia via http://t.co/MEcKrBFH

Jan 21st, 2013 at 11:48am

quercus99

RT @australian: Sundance opens screens to cat videos: EVERYONE'S favourite internet meme - the cat video - has hit the big time,... http://t.co/veiNJben

Jan 21st, 2013 at 11:58am