Official Virgin Media Website
Virgin Media offers...
Virgin TV
Crystal clear TV. Plus, 500 films at your beck and call.
Virgin Broadband
Our broadband service on cable is three times faster than BT, AOL or Tiscali1, so you'll get the speed you need, and there's no limit on how much you can download
Virgin Phone on cable
simply a great value phone service.
Flexible packages. Fair pricing. No phoney baloney.
Why Choose Virging Media?
"The future is bursting with fresh entertainment and communication possibilities.
That’s why we’re here.
To bring all the excitement to you and make it easy to choose the latest technology, with simple pricing you can understand.
TV, Broadband, Phone, Mobile.
Watch it, surf it, talk it, walk it."
Article on NTL renaming itself Virgin Media
"will offer packages ranging from £20 to £40 a month."
WIKIPEDIA article
"which became the first "quadruple-play" media-company in Britain, bringing together a so-called "Quad Play" service consisting of television, Internet, mobile phone and fixed-line telephone services."
"Virgin Television, the digital cable TV service from Virgin Media, currently ranks as the UK's second-largest pay-TV service, having 3.3m subscribers"
"Virgin Media currently brands its video on demand (VOD) service as "On Demand". In contrast to the proposed system from Sky Digital, Virgin Media offers a true VOD system. The service allows customers to stream programmes as and when they want to watch them from servers at the customer's local head-end."
Wednesday 28 February 2007
Friday 23 February 2007
Wi-Fi
From Wikipedia-
"Wi-Fi is a brand originally licensed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe the underlying technology of wireless local area networks (WLAN. It was developed to be used for mobile computing devices, such as laptops, but is now increasingly used for more services, including Internet and VoIP phone access, gaming, and basic connectivity of consumer electronics such as televisions and DVD players, or digital cameras. More standards are in development that will allow Wi-Fi to be used by cars in highways in support of an Intelligent Transportation System to increase safety, gather statistics, and enable mobile commerce."
BBC article about some villages getting free internet access
Website allowing people to quickly search for their WIFI hotspots
There are even devices to detect WIFI hotspots that you can just "clip to your keyring"
However there is a danger that your wireless connection could be hacked into
"Wi-Fi is a brand originally licensed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe the underlying technology of wireless local area networks (WLAN. It was developed to be used for mobile computing devices, such as laptops, but is now increasingly used for more services, including Internet and VoIP phone access, gaming, and basic connectivity of consumer electronics such as televisions and DVD players, or digital cameras. More standards are in development that will allow Wi-Fi to be used by cars in highways in support of an Intelligent Transportation System to increase safety, gather statistics, and enable mobile commerce."
BBC article about some villages getting free internet access
Website allowing people to quickly search for their WIFI hotspots
There are even devices to detect WIFI hotspots that you can just "clip to your keyring"
However there is a danger that your wireless connection could be hacked into
Digital TV
Official government information about the switch over
"In September 2005, the Government confirmed that digital switchover will take place between 2008 and 2012, ITV region by ITV region, starting in the Border region."
"Digital UK is an independent, not-for-profit organisation established by the broadcasting industry to lead the switchover programme."
"Already just under 72% of UK households have chosen to go digital"
" Today about 1 in 4 UK households cannot get the full range of digital TV services available free through an aerial"
47% against BBC subsidising switch to digital
GMTV Article
"It gives you all your usual channels and access to many more such as BBC Three, ITV2, E4 and Sky News."
"It can also give you better picture and sound quality"
"In September 2005, the Government confirmed that digital switchover will take place between 2008 and 2012, ITV region by ITV region, starting in the Border region."
"Digital UK is an independent, not-for-profit organisation established by the broadcasting industry to lead the switchover programme."
"Already just under 72% of UK households have chosen to go digital"
" Today about 1 in 4 UK households cannot get the full range of digital TV services available free through an aerial"
47% against BBC subsidising switch to digital
GMTV Article
"It gives you all your usual channels and access to many more such as BBC Three, ITV2, E4 and Sky News."
"It can also give you better picture and sound quality"
Wednesday 21 February 2007
Chacha.com
Chacha.com is a search engine where you can search for things with the help of an online guide.
"ChaCha's goal is to provide a better search experience by combining results that are hand-picked by our knowledgeable human guides with the best computer-generated search results. In those cases where you can't find what you need with our instant results, ChaCha will connect you with a live human guide who will find the information for you through an instant messaging-style search session."
"ChaCha is all about making the web more accessible, by giving you the most relevant results you need. And with ChaCha, you get great results instantly and you have the option to search with a Guide who can help find your result. So come join our experiment and have some fun!"
"ChaCha's goal is to provide a better search experience by combining results that are hand-picked by our knowledgeable human guides with the best computer-generated search results. In those cases where you can't find what you need with our instant results, ChaCha will connect you with a live human guide who will find the information for you through an instant messaging-style search session."
"ChaCha is all about making the web more accessible, by giving you the most relevant results you need. And with ChaCha, you get great results instantly and you have the option to search with a Guide who can help find your result. So come join our experiment and have some fun!"
Tuesday 20 February 2007
Social Networking Websites
A list of social networking websites from Wikipedia
History of Social Networking Websites
See "Internet Social Networks" further down the page
"The first social networking website was Classmates.com, which began in 1995"
"There are over 200 social networking sites. The popularity of these sites rapidly grew, and by 2005 MySpace was getting more page views than Google"
Myspace
Wikipedia
"founded in July 2003"
"the sixth most popular website in any language"
"third most popular website in the United States, though it has topped the chart on various weeks"
"nearly 80% of visits to online social networking websites"
"bought in July 2005 for US$580 million"
MYSPACE ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE?
"MySpace Mobile
There are a variety of environments in which users can access MySpace content on their mobile phone. American mobile phone provider Helio released a series of mobile phones in early 2006 that can utilise a service known as MySpace Mobile to access and edit one's profile and communicate with, and view the profiles of, other members.[12] Additionally, UIEvolution and MySpace developed a mobile version of MySpace for a wider range of carriers, including Cingular.[13] MySpace Mobile will be appearing on Vodaphone in Britain during the first half of 2007.[14]"
Issues with Social Networking Websites
BBC article about US schools banning websites
Safety tips for parents
Lawmakers take aim at social-networking sites
" It has assigned about 100 employees, about one-third of its workforce, to deal with security and customer care" - Refering to Myspace
History of Social Networking Websites
See "Internet Social Networks" further down the page
"The first social networking website was Classmates.com, which began in 1995"
"There are over 200 social networking sites. The popularity of these sites rapidly grew, and by 2005 MySpace was getting more page views than Google"
Myspace
Wikipedia
"founded in July 2003"
"the sixth most popular website in any language"
"third most popular website in the United States, though it has topped the chart on various weeks"
"nearly 80% of visits to online social networking websites"
"bought in July 2005 for US$580 million"
MYSPACE ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE?
"MySpace Mobile
There are a variety of environments in which users can access MySpace content on their mobile phone. American mobile phone provider Helio released a series of mobile phones in early 2006 that can utilise a service known as MySpace Mobile to access and edit one's profile and communicate with, and view the profiles of, other members.[12] Additionally, UIEvolution and MySpace developed a mobile version of MySpace for a wider range of carriers, including Cingular.[13] MySpace Mobile will be appearing on Vodaphone in Britain during the first half of 2007.[14]"
Issues with Social Networking Websites
BBC article about US schools banning websites
Safety tips for parents
Lawmakers take aim at social-networking sites
" It has assigned about 100 employees, about one-third of its workforce, to deal with security and customer care" - Refering to Myspace
Friday 9 February 2007
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is the new operating system from Microsoft
Official Slogan: "Clear, Confident, Connected; Bringing clarity to your world"
From the official website:
"Windows Vista features a breakthrough design and easy-to-use organizational tools that make it simpler to get things done and get on with life! Find what you need instantly, on your PC or on the web, with Instant Search. Bring more clarity to your tasks with the spectacular Windows Aero user experience and Windows Flip 3D, allowing you to see everything you’re working on at a glance."
Although Windows is facing competition from Mac as demonstrated in these advertisements for Macs
More pressure on Microsoft as these advertisements are shown regulary in the UK (the UK version which I could not find on Youtube but work on the same principle) as Windows Vista is just being released
BBC article
"Microsoft's flagship software already runs on about 90% of personal computers worldwide."
Another BBC article about whether or not Vista can "inspire" consumers
"Let's make no mistake: Windows Vista will be a success. But it will happen almost by default."
"Very few consumers will choose to upgrade to Vista," says Mr Colony. "Nobody is choosing to install it, they will upgrade only by buying a new machine."
Microsoft relying on this? Obviously they would have expected this.
"When you use Vista, "it's just not like using software anymore... it's more user-centric, less systems-centric," says Mr Gates,"
"Microsoft's biggest challenge, however, will be for Windows to make the jump from the study into our living rooms."
"Rival Apple may grab the headlines (and the biggest share of the MP3 player market), but in the computer space it is puny.
The reason: Apple insists on controlling the whole package, from the operating system to the central hardware. "
Official Slogan: "Clear, Confident, Connected; Bringing clarity to your world"
From the official website:
"Windows Vista features a breakthrough design and easy-to-use organizational tools that make it simpler to get things done and get on with life! Find what you need instantly, on your PC or on the web, with Instant Search. Bring more clarity to your tasks with the spectacular Windows Aero user experience and Windows Flip 3D, allowing you to see everything you’re working on at a glance."
Although Windows is facing competition from Mac as demonstrated in these advertisements for Macs
More pressure on Microsoft as these advertisements are shown regulary in the UK (the UK version which I could not find on Youtube but work on the same principle) as Windows Vista is just being released
BBC article
"Microsoft's flagship software already runs on about 90% of personal computers worldwide."
Another BBC article about whether or not Vista can "inspire" consumers
"Let's make no mistake: Windows Vista will be a success. But it will happen almost by default."
"Very few consumers will choose to upgrade to Vista," says Mr Colony. "Nobody is choosing to install it, they will upgrade only by buying a new machine."
Microsoft relying on this? Obviously they would have expected this.
"When you use Vista, "it's just not like using software anymore... it's more user-centric, less systems-centric," says Mr Gates,"
"Microsoft's biggest challenge, however, will be for Windows to make the jump from the study into our living rooms."
"Rival Apple may grab the headlines (and the biggest share of the MP3 player market), but in the computer space it is puny.
The reason: Apple insists on controlling the whole package, from the operating system to the central hardware. "
On Demand TV
Official website of channel 4 On Demand
Tells you how to use the service and the latest things to download
BBC article about 4 OD
"Channel 4 said it was the first major broadcaster in the world to offer all its home-grown programming on demand."
"Downloading can take up to one-and-a-half times the length of the programme."
Actually worth downloading???
"Each programme will "disappear" from users' computers 48 hours after they start to watch."
Paying the programme but not actually being able to keep it.
Guardian Unlimited article on OD TV
Statistics from OD TV taken from the article
"63% of the population that would prefer to watch on-demand TV,"
"Twenty-five percent of people said a new wave of smaller, specialist, on-demand TV services will make it harder for the major broadcasters to survive."
"42% of people that watch on-demand actually watch less TV as a result."
"Around 17% of people are already viewing on-demand content and movies, soaps and sports would be the biggest incentive for the people that haven't tried it yet."
"28% of Londoners have watched on-demand content via broadband compared to just 12% in Wales and Northern Ireland."
"63% that would prefer on-demand, the other 37% don't understand what it is - if they did, they would want it too."
"Around 42% of the people surveyed for the report said traditional TV schedules won't exist in ten years"
Tells you how to use the service and the latest things to download
BBC article about 4 OD
"Channel 4 said it was the first major broadcaster in the world to offer all its home-grown programming on demand."
"Downloading can take up to one-and-a-half times the length of the programme."
Actually worth downloading???
"Each programme will "disappear" from users' computers 48 hours after they start to watch."
Paying the programme but not actually being able to keep it.
Guardian Unlimited article on OD TV
Statistics from OD TV taken from the article
"63% of the population that would prefer to watch on-demand TV,"
"Twenty-five percent of people said a new wave of smaller, specialist, on-demand TV services will make it harder for the major broadcasters to survive."
"42% of people that watch on-demand actually watch less TV as a result."
"Around 17% of people are already viewing on-demand content and movies, soaps and sports would be the biggest incentive for the people that haven't tried it yet."
"28% of Londoners have watched on-demand content via broadband compared to just 12% in Wales and Northern Ireland."
"63% that would prefer on-demand, the other 37% don't understand what it is - if they did, they would want it too."
"Around 42% of the people surveyed for the report said traditional TV schedules won't exist in ten years"
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