Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood investigation prompted by boat captain's comments

Detectives decided to re-open the investigation into the death of actress Natalie Wood in part because of statements made by the captain of the boat Wood was on at the time of her death.

L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca said The Times that homicide detectives want to talk to the captain based on comments he had made recounting the case on its 30^th anniversary. Baca did not detail what the captain said regarding the case

“He made comments worthy of exploring,” Baca said.

HOLLYWOOD STAR WALK:  Natalie Wood

A law enforcement source added that the department had recently received a letter from an unidentified (third party) who said that the captain had "new recollections" about the case. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing.

Officials ruled that Wood's drowning death while boating off Santa Catalina Island was an accident. But there has been much speculation about the circumstances surrounding her death.

"Recently sheriff’s homicide investigators were contacted by persons who stated they had additional information about the Natalie Wood Wagner drowning. Due to the additional information, Sheriff’s homicide bureau has decided to take another look at the case," the department said in a statement.

Wood and Robert Wagner first married in 1957 and divorced five years later. Both went on to marry other people and have children. They remarried in 1972.

On Thanksgiving weekend 1981, Wagner and Wood had invited actor Christopher Walken to be their guest on Catalina aboard their boat, the Splendor. On the evening of Nov. 29, they had dinner and drinks at Doug's Harbor Reef. They returned to the boat and continued to drink until a heated argument erupted between the two men.

Wagner told The Times in 2008 that the argument concerned how much of one's personal life should be sacrificed in pursuit of one's career; he was upset that Walken was advocating that Wood give her all to her art, even at the expense of her husband and children.

Wood left to go to the master cabin's bathroom. Wagner says he and Walken eventually calmed down and said good night. When he went to bed he says that Wood was not there. It is believed that the yacht's dinghy had come loose and that Wood came up on deck to tie it up.

"I have gone over it so many millions of times with people. Nobody heard anything," Wagner told The Times in 2008.

All News Events of the World: Google Unveils Android-Based Online Music Store

All News Events of the World: Google Unveils Android-Based Online Music Store

Google Unveils Android-Based Online Music Store

Google has opened an online music store in the US, which will allow devices running its Android software to buy, store and stream MP-3 files.

EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal and twenty-three independent labels are providing content to create a library of thirteen million songs.

However, Warner Music Group has chosen not to take part at this point.

The service poses a challenge to Apple's dominance of the sector. It opened its iTunes store in 2003.

The popularity of the iPod maker's mobile devices helped drive sales.

However, a new study by the research firm Gartner suggests that more than half of all Smart-Phones sold between July and Sept. ran Android. That accounts for more than sixty million devices.

By comparison Apple's iOS handsets accounted for 15% of the market over the same period, according to the study.

Social network

Google is also integrating its new service with its Google+ social network.

Users will be able to share songs with their Circles contacts who can listen to the full length of the tracks one time without making a purchase.

Songs range in price from 69 cents (44p) to $1.29 and come without DRM copy-protection. The search giant is also offering a different track free for download every day.

The firm announced it has secured exclusive content.

The rapper Busta Rhymes - who was at the launch event - is debuting his new studio album on the Android store. The Rolling Stones and Coldplay are offering previously unreleased live performances.

Google is also hoping to link with smaller artists through its new Artist Hub. Musicians can add their own page for a $25 fee and set their own prices. Google will take a 30% share of each sale.

Android signage at the Goole Music announcement Google is adding music to its app, video and book sales on the Android Market

The firm did not discuss any plans to offer Google Music outside the US.

Competition

Google is not the only tech company trying to make a splash in the music industry.

Blackberry launched its BBM Music service in the UK on Tuesday. The firm offers users 50 DRM-protected tracks of their choice for £4.99 a month.

Members can also listen to their friends' selections. The service is also live in the US, Canada and Australia.

Nokia is pursuing a different model, offering owners of its new Lumia 800 Windows Phone use of its Mix Radio app.

The software scans the users' music collections and builds a customised radio station from the firm's 15 million strong library.

Internet radio

Amazon already runs a cloud based music service.

The firm launched its new Kindle Fire tablet earlier this week which may drive further sales from the site.

Streaming subscription service sportily is also expanding after opening in the US in July. It offers apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

The other big player in the US is the internet radio service, Pandora which tries to tailor its selection to each user's taste.

 

Despite all the competition, analysts say Google Music still has room to man-oeuvre.

"It is not exactly innovative, but the reality is that Google will get success in the same way it has in other markets by making the most of its strengths in search and Android and it will keep chipping away," said Colin Gillis, technology analyst at BGC Partners.

The chief executive of the UK-based 7-digital MP3 store added that others may benefit from the search giant's move.

"Google's long overdue entry in the market is welcome as the company has a special market role, in helping combat piracy through the power to control search listings, Adwords advertising and dodgy MP3 apps on the Android market, and also in showing consumers there is choice beyond iTunes,".