Former US Vice President Al Gore has promised to "democratise" television in the UK at the launch of a channel featuring programmes made by viewers.
"Current TV will broadcast non-fiction videos by "people making TV for the first time, and making it well", said Mr Gore, one of the channel's founders."
"Available through Sky and Virgin Media, it claims to be the first channel created by and for 18- to 34-year-olds."
"Statistics from Google's search engine will be featured every half hour - "our version of the news", Mr Gore said."
"Every month, viewers will vote for one short film - or "pod", as Current TV is branding them - to be archived in the British Library."
Guardian Article
"Al Gore yesterday unveiled the British version of his Current TV network, claiming it was the first example of "television for the internet generation"
"Current TV, which launched yesterday on the Sky and Virgin Media pay-TV platforms, is aimed at the 18- to 34-year-olds increasingly turning to the net, mobile phones and a myriad of digital channels to complement mainstream media habits."
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Downloading Music
Wikipedia article
"Downloading music first became popular with file sharing technologies such as peer-to-peer networks, with people breaking copyright laws by not paying for any of it. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) claimed that this practice was hurting the music industry, and a series of law suits led to many of these networks being closed down."
"The second phase of music downloading was the online music store, whereby songs could be downloaded at a price. In 2003, iTunes saw the popularity of legal digital downloads skyrocket. Other online websites include URGE, Napster and MSN's Music store. The sales of downloaded music has now surpassed the sales of 'physical copies' in some countries; this has been indicated in the UK where Crazy by Gnarls Barkley reached the top spot in the UK Singles Chart based on download sales alone"
Downloading 'myths' challenged
"According to the music industry, legal downloads have tripled during 2005.
In the first half of 2005, some 10 million songs have been legally downloaded. "
" The study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music."
"The Leading Question survey also asked 600 music fans what devices they would be buying in the next year.
A third planned to buy a dedicated MP3 player, while just 8% said they would be buying an MP3-enabled phone"
Music downloads on the Internet: a new music generation
"Even though the cost of MP3 downloads is at an all time low, with tracks costing as little as 50p for the UK, some people still choose to download tracks illegally or use file sharing software to share music."
From 2003...
Illegal music sites 'here to stay'
" 19% of people surveyed said they would pay for song downloads over the internet, up from 16% a year ago."
"Album sales in the US in 2002 were down for the second year in a row - dropping more than 10% on the previous year."
"# 1,060 unauthorised servers
# 28,000 pirate web and music sites
# 700 million unauthorised music files"
"Downloading music first became popular with file sharing technologies such as peer-to-peer networks, with people breaking copyright laws by not paying for any of it. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) claimed that this practice was hurting the music industry, and a series of law suits led to many of these networks being closed down."
"The second phase of music downloading was the online music store, whereby songs could be downloaded at a price. In 2003, iTunes saw the popularity of legal digital downloads skyrocket. Other online websites include URGE, Napster and MSN's Music store. The sales of downloaded music has now surpassed the sales of 'physical copies' in some countries; this has been indicated in the UK where Crazy by Gnarls Barkley reached the top spot in the UK Singles Chart based on download sales alone"
Downloading 'myths' challenged
"According to the music industry, legal downloads have tripled during 2005.
In the first half of 2005, some 10 million songs have been legally downloaded. "
" The study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music."
"The Leading Question survey also asked 600 music fans what devices they would be buying in the next year.
A third planned to buy a dedicated MP3 player, while just 8% said they would be buying an MP3-enabled phone"
Music downloads on the Internet: a new music generation
"Even though the cost of MP3 downloads is at an all time low, with tracks costing as little as 50p for the UK, some people still choose to download tracks illegally or use file sharing software to share music."
From 2003...
Illegal music sites 'here to stay'
" 19% of people surveyed said they would pay for song downloads over the internet, up from 16% a year ago."
"Album sales in the US in 2002 were down for the second year in a row - dropping more than 10% on the previous year."
"# 1,060 unauthorised servers
# 28,000 pirate web and music sites
# 700 million unauthorised music files"
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Pocasts
Wikipedia Article
"The concept of Podcasting was suggested as early as 2000 and its technical components were available by 2001, then implemented in the program Radio Userland. In 2003 regular podcasts started showing up on well-known Web sites and software support spread."
"Podcasting's initial appeal was to allow individuals to distribute their own "radio shows," but the system quickly became used in a wide variety of other ways, including distribution of school lessons, official and unofficial audio tours of museums, conference meeting alerts and updates, and by police departments to distribute public safety messages."
BBC article on "Podcasters"
"It is totally going to kill the business model of radio," thinks Curry.
"I just did a tour of Madison Avenue where all the big brands and advertising agencies of the world are," he says.
"And they are scared to death of the next generation - like my daughter who is 14 - who don't listen to radio.
"They are on MSN, they've got their iPod, their MP3 player, they've got their Xbox - they are not listening to radio.
"So how are they going to reach these audiences?
"It is the distribution that is changing and the barriers are being brought down so everyone can be part of it."
"The concept of Podcasting was suggested as early as 2000 and its technical components were available by 2001, then implemented in the program Radio Userland. In 2003 regular podcasts started showing up on well-known Web sites and software support spread."
"Podcasting's initial appeal was to allow individuals to distribute their own "radio shows," but the system quickly became used in a wide variety of other ways, including distribution of school lessons, official and unofficial audio tours of museums, conference meeting alerts and updates, and by police departments to distribute public safety messages."
BBC article on "Podcasters"
"It is totally going to kill the business model of radio," thinks Curry.
"I just did a tour of Madison Avenue where all the big brands and advertising agencies of the world are," he says.
"And they are scared to death of the next generation - like my daughter who is 14 - who don't listen to radio.
"They are on MSN, they've got their iPod, their MP3 player, they've got their Xbox - they are not listening to radio.
"So how are they going to reach these audiences?
"It is the distribution that is changing and the barriers are being brought down so everyone can be part of it."
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
Blogging
Wikipedia definition on what a blog is
"A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order."
"Before blogging became popular, digital communities took many forms, including Usenet, e-mail lists[2] and bulletin board systems (BBS). In the 1990s, Internet forum software, such as WebEx, created running conversations with "threads". Threads are topical connections between messages on a metaphorical "corkboard". Some have likened blogging to the mass-observation movement of the mid-20th century."
"The modern blog evolved from the online diary, where people would keep a running account of their personal lives. Most such writers called themselves diarists, journalists, or journalers. A few called themselves escribitionists. The Open Pages webring included members of the online-journal community. Justin Hall, who began eleven years of personal blogging in 1994 while a student at Swarthmore College, is generally recognized as one of the earliest bloggers."
"In 2004, the role of blogs became increasingly mainstream, as political consultants, news services and candidates began using them as tools for outreach and opinion forming. Even politicians not actively campaigning, such as the UK's Labour Party's MP Tom Watson, began to blog to bond with constituents."
Blogging and the mass media
Many bloggers differentiate themselves from the mainstream media, while others are members of that media working through a different channel. Some institutions see blogging as a means of "getting around the filter" and pushing messages directly to the public. Some critics worry that bloggers respect neither copyright nor the role of the mass media in presenting society with credible news. Bloggers and other contributors to user generated content are behind TIME magazine naming the 2006 person of the year as "you".
Many mainstream journalists, meanwhile, write their own blogs -- well over 300, according to CyberJournalist.net's J-blog list. The first known use of a Weblog on a news site was in August 1998, when Jonathan Dube of The Charlotte Observer published one chronicling Hurricane Bonnie.[16]
Blogs have also had an influence on minority languages, bringing together scattered speakers and learners; this is particularly so with blogs in Gaelic languages, whose creators can be found as far away from traditional Gaelic areas as Kazakhstan and Alaska. Minority language publishing (which may lack economic feasibility) can find its audience through inexpensive blogging.
The BBCs definition of what blogging is
People loosing their jobs over blogs
"There are more than five million blogs, or online diaries, and the number is growing."
"A new term has emerged as a result. According to UrbanDictionary.com, to be "dooced" means "losing your job for something you wrote in your online blog, journal, website, etc.""
The blogging phenomenon is set to peak in 2007, according to technology predictions by analysts Gartner.
"The analysts said that during the middle of next year the number of blogs will level out at about 100 million."
People also create video blogs or a "vlog" on websites such as Youtube
"A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order."
"Before blogging became popular, digital communities took many forms, including Usenet, e-mail lists[2] and bulletin board systems (BBS). In the 1990s, Internet forum software, such as WebEx, created running conversations with "threads". Threads are topical connections between messages on a metaphorical "corkboard". Some have likened blogging to the mass-observation movement of the mid-20th century."
"The modern blog evolved from the online diary, where people would keep a running account of their personal lives. Most such writers called themselves diarists, journalists, or journalers. A few called themselves escribitionists. The Open Pages webring included members of the online-journal community. Justin Hall, who began eleven years of personal blogging in 1994 while a student at Swarthmore College, is generally recognized as one of the earliest bloggers."
"In 2004, the role of blogs became increasingly mainstream, as political consultants, news services and candidates began using them as tools for outreach and opinion forming. Even politicians not actively campaigning, such as the UK's Labour Party's MP Tom Watson, began to blog to bond with constituents."
Blogging and the mass media
Many bloggers differentiate themselves from the mainstream media, while others are members of that media working through a different channel. Some institutions see blogging as a means of "getting around the filter" and pushing messages directly to the public. Some critics worry that bloggers respect neither copyright nor the role of the mass media in presenting society with credible news. Bloggers and other contributors to user generated content are behind TIME magazine naming the 2006 person of the year as "you".
Many mainstream journalists, meanwhile, write their own blogs -- well over 300, according to CyberJournalist.net's J-blog list. The first known use of a Weblog on a news site was in August 1998, when Jonathan Dube of The Charlotte Observer published one chronicling Hurricane Bonnie.[16]
Blogs have also had an influence on minority languages, bringing together scattered speakers and learners; this is particularly so with blogs in Gaelic languages, whose creators can be found as far away from traditional Gaelic areas as Kazakhstan and Alaska. Minority language publishing (which may lack economic feasibility) can find its audience through inexpensive blogging.
The BBCs definition of what blogging is
People loosing their jobs over blogs
"There are more than five million blogs, or online diaries, and the number is growing."
"A new term has emerged as a result. According to UrbanDictionary.com, to be "dooced" means "losing your job for something you wrote in your online blog, journal, website, etc.""
The blogging phenomenon is set to peak in 2007, according to technology predictions by analysts Gartner.
"The analysts said that during the middle of next year the number of blogs will level out at about 100 million."
People also create video blogs or a "vlog" on websites such as Youtube
Monday, 5 March 2007
Nintendo Wii
Official Website
BBC "factfile" on the Wii
"The Wii Remote, which resembles a TV remote control, allows users to play games through simple physical movements.
It can be used to jab like a sword, steer like driving a car, swoosh like a tennis racket. Nintendo hopes the change in gameplay will broaden the console's appeal."
Nintendo Wii Takes Lead in Console Wars
"Nintendo sold 436,000 units during the month, with Sony's previous iteration of its console, the
PlayStation 2, coming in second place. Microsoft's
Xbox 360 was third, followed by the PlayStation 3.
Nintendo has maintained its lead primarily through ease-of-use, a lower price, and strong game titles at launch time, analysts have said. Sony and Microsoft, in contrast, have tried to develop consoles that are cutting edge, which has increased the price of the units."
Wikipedia article
" Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3,[7] but it competes with both as part of the seventh generation of gaming systems."
Nintendo Wii issues with breakages
BBC "factfile" on the Wii
"The Wii Remote, which resembles a TV remote control, allows users to play games through simple physical movements.
It can be used to jab like a sword, steer like driving a car, swoosh like a tennis racket. Nintendo hopes the change in gameplay will broaden the console's appeal."
Nintendo Wii Takes Lead in Console Wars
"Nintendo sold 436,000 units during the month, with Sony's previous iteration of its console, the
PlayStation 2, coming in second place. Microsoft's
Xbox 360 was third, followed by the PlayStation 3.
Nintendo has maintained its lead primarily through ease-of-use, a lower price, and strong game titles at launch time, analysts have said. Sony and Microsoft, in contrast, have tried to develop consoles that are cutting edge, which has increased the price of the units."
Wikipedia article
" Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3,[7] but it competes with both as part of the seventh generation of gaming systems."
Nintendo Wii issues with breakages
Thursday, 1 March 2007
Second Life
Official Website
Wikipedia Article
"an Internet-based virtual world which came to international attention via mainstream news media in late 2006 and early 2007."
"providing an advanced level of a social network service"
The future of social networking???
"a user-defined world of general use in which people can interact, play, do business, and otherwise communicate"
"over four million accounts have been registered, though many are not active, and some Residents have multiple accounts."
"Second Life has recently emerged as one of the cutting-edge virtual classrooms for major colleges and universities, including Harvard, Pepperdine, Ball State, New York University and Delft University of Technology"
Prices
"It is possible, and quite common, to join Second Life for free. Many activities in Second Life are free, but others cost money, payable in Linden dollars (Second Life's in-world currency; see Economy and real estate). For example, goods and services may be charged for by other Residents — these charges are not set by Linden Lab, and so are not included under membership pricing, but are simply part of the economy of Second Life. There are two types of account in Second Life: "basic accounts" and "premium accounts". Basic accounts have no recurring fee, but lack the right to own land within Second Life. As of February 2007, the premium account fee is set at $9.95 per month, although this reduces to $6.00 per month if the fee is paid annually"
Parody of Second Life, "Get a Life"
The BBC using Second
Life
"The rented island exists in online game Second Life and will hold its first event this weekend with bands including Muse, Razorlight and Gnarls Barkley."
Wired article about people making a living in Second Life
"Within a month, Grinnell was making more in Second Life than in her real-world job as a dispatcher. And after three months she realized she could quit her day job altogether."
"With users now numbering over 130,000, game-maker Linden Lab estimates that nearly $5 million dollars, or about $38 per person, was exchanged between players in January 2006 alone."
Guardian Article
"Second Life's population includes a wedding planner, pet manufacturer, tattooist, nightclub owner, car maker, fashion designer, jewellery maker, architect, tour guide, and property speculator. There is a detective agency, which can be hired to check whether your virtual spouse is cheating with a virtual lover - such cases are reported to have caused marital rows over whether online cheating counts as real-life cheating."
Wikipedia Article
"an Internet-based virtual world which came to international attention via mainstream news media in late 2006 and early 2007."
"providing an advanced level of a social network service"
The future of social networking???
"a user-defined world of general use in which people can interact, play, do business, and otherwise communicate"
"over four million accounts have been registered, though many are not active, and some Residents have multiple accounts."
"Second Life has recently emerged as one of the cutting-edge virtual classrooms for major colleges and universities, including Harvard, Pepperdine, Ball State, New York University and Delft University of Technology"
Prices
"It is possible, and quite common, to join Second Life for free. Many activities in Second Life are free, but others cost money, payable in Linden dollars (Second Life's in-world currency; see Economy and real estate). For example, goods and services may be charged for by other Residents — these charges are not set by Linden Lab, and so are not included under membership pricing, but are simply part of the economy of Second Life. There are two types of account in Second Life: "basic accounts" and "premium accounts". Basic accounts have no recurring fee, but lack the right to own land within Second Life. As of February 2007, the premium account fee is set at $9.95 per month, although this reduces to $6.00 per month if the fee is paid annually"
Parody of Second Life, "Get a Life"
The BBC using Second
Life
"The rented island exists in online game Second Life and will hold its first event this weekend with bands including Muse, Razorlight and Gnarls Barkley."
Wired article about people making a living in Second Life
"Within a month, Grinnell was making more in Second Life than in her real-world job as a dispatcher. And after three months she realized she could quit her day job altogether."
"With users now numbering over 130,000, game-maker Linden Lab estimates that nearly $5 million dollars, or about $38 per person, was exchanged between players in January 2006 alone."
Guardian Article
"Second Life's population includes a wedding planner, pet manufacturer, tattooist, nightclub owner, car maker, fashion designer, jewellery maker, architect, tour guide, and property speculator. There is a detective agency, which can be hired to check whether your virtual spouse is cheating with a virtual lover - such cases are reported to have caused marital rows over whether online cheating counts as real-life cheating."
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Virgin Media
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."
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."
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