Yuticha

Google shows the way of creating & distributing internet video

Here's some news on the internet video front that could set the trend for original content creation and distribution over the web.

NYTimes Reports
Google is experimenting with a new method of distributing original material on the Web, and some Hollywood film financiers are betting millions that the company will succeed.

In September, Seth MacFarlane, creator of “Family Guy” on television, will unveil a carefully guarded new project called “Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy.” Unlike “Family Guy,” which is broadcast on Fox, this animation series will appear exclusively on the Internet.

The innovative part involves the distribution plan. Google will syndicate the program using its AdSense advertising system to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane’s target audience, typically young men. Instead of placing a static ad on a Web page, Google will place a “Cavalcade” video clip.

In addition to this arrangement, Youtube will also dedicated channel for the show.

Green Apple: Now's the time for others to 'seriously' follow

After many before him have preached their commitment to a 'greener outlook' to their respective businesses, Steve Jobbs seems to have taken an earnest step in that direction. And, when Mr Jobbs does that, it sounds like a seriously 'green future'. 

From the Apple site

... Apple has been criticized by some environmental organizations for not being a leader in removing toxic chemicals from its new products, and for not aggressively or properly recycling its old products. Upon investigating Apple’s current practices and progress towards these goals, I was surprised to learn that in many cases Apple is ahead of, or will soon be ahead of, most of its competitors in these areas. Whatever other improvements we need to make, it is certainly clear that we have failed to communicate the things that we are doing well.

It is generally not Apple’s policy to trumpet our plans for the future; we tend to talk about the things we have just accomplished. Unfortunately this policy has left our customers, shareholders, employees and the industry in the dark about Apple’s desires and plans to become greener. Our stakeholders deserve and expect more from us, and they’re right to do so. They want us to be a leader in this area, just as we are in the other areas of our business. So today we’re changing our policy.

Now I’d like to tell you what we are doing to remove toxic chemicals from our new products, and to more aggressively recycle our old products. ...

Luxor Ad: Inspiration?

Just came across this amazing poster of Jimi Hendrix the other day, and I couldn't help notice the similarities (atleast on the art front) with the recent Cannes Award winning Luxor Highlighter ad ..

Ever heard of Google flops ?

Behind string of successes hide a few (or a handful) of faliures; and no one is spared.

Check out this interesting string of failures/flops from Google.

Source: PC World

2012: 90% of web traffic will be used by video

I happened to come across this report by Cisco Systems called 'Approaching the Zettabyte Era'.

The report takes a chance at forecasting the growth of the Internet through 2012. The advent of internet video has made these forecasts far more intriguing than it has been in recent years.

According to the report, 90% of all consumer traffic in 2012 will be video. That includes all forms — VoD, P2P, etc. Internet video alone will account for 50% of all consumer traffic. i.e up from about 25% today. Overall, a very interesting read.

Nothing short of remarkable really works in marketing

Little Miss Matched is a company that I've been wanting to write about for quite a while now. It's one 'innovative' company. I was lured into reading more about it when I read Seth Godin's post today.

 The company hasn't taken the 'riskier' path of working out strategies that most intelligent marketers in big companies do and created a distinctive product - funky socks to fashionable girls ( 3 socks in a box, 133 styles and none of the socks ever match).  

The company was conceived by Jonah Staw and three business-savvy friends, who saw a marketing opportunity in the age-old problem of the lost sock. The well-connected foursome tapped a few investors, parents included, and set out to challenge the very notion of a "pair."

What got referred by most as a gimmick during its early days, seems to be working wonders for both the brand and the company. MissMatched socks are sold across stores in the US and their product line has extended to scarves, mittens, flip-flops and even a Little MissMatched book.

The Internet's now getting metered

In 1996, when AOL started offering unlimited access plans in the US, Internet use took off and the online world started moving to the center of people’s daily lives. Today most Internet packages provide a seemingly unlimited amount of capacity, at least from the consumer’s perspective.

But like water and electricity, even digital resources are finite. Last year Comcast disclosed that it was temporarily turning off the connections of customers who used file-sharing services like BitTorrent, arguing that they were slowing things down for everyone else. The people who got cut off complained and asked how much broadband use was too much; the company did not have a ready answer.

Now three of the country’s largest Internet service providers are threatening to clamp down on their most active subscribers by placing monthly limits on their online activity.

Internet metering is a throwback to the days of dial-up service, but at a time when video and interactive games are becoming popular, the experiments could have huge implications for the future of the Web.

Millions of people are moving online to watch movies and television shows, play multiplayer video games and talk over videoconference with family and friends. And media companies are trying to get people to spend more time online: the Disneys and NBCs of the world keep adding television shows and movies to their Web sites, giving consumers convenient entertainment that soaks up a lot of bandwidth.

“As soon as you put serious uncertainty as to cost on the table, people’s feeling of freedom to predict cost dries up and so does innovation and trying new applications,” Vint Cerf, the chief Internet evangelist for Google who is often called the “father of the Internet,” said in an e-mail message.

Source: The New York Times

Genepax creates the first car that runs on water

As the energy crisis tightens its noose around the planet, here's a truly amazing product from the Japanese. Worthy of Steve Jobbs' attention I must say

.

Engadget reports that Japan's Genepax has taken the wraps off its Water Energy System fuel cell prototype. It works by supplying air and water to an electrode engine and it works in a similar way to standard fuel cells. It works with something called a membrane electrode assembly that literally breaks down water to hydrogen and oxygen.

Not surprisingly, the company isn't getting much more specific than that, with it only saying that it's adopted a "well-known process to produce hydrogen from water to the MEA." Currently, that system costs on the order of ¥2,000,000 (or about $18,700 -- not including the car), but company says that if it can get it into mass production that could be cut to ¥500,000 or less (or just under $5,000).

Engadget

Have you jacked yet ..?

This is one cool start-up in the internet video space to check out. What I like about them is the fact that they throw open possibilities where broadcast TV experience can be enhanced (atleast till a time where internet broadcasts completely take over) ..so it acts as a complement rather than as a substitute.

Jacked describes itself as an interactive Web companion for TV broadcasts. If you want to spice up the broadcast of the Lakers game, for example, visit Jacked.com and click on the game ticket. Without downloads or connection to the TV, the site will deliver news, products, photos, sports stats, or related information to the game via an array of widgets.

Launched last September, Jacked, Jacked technology scours the internet to pull together video, statistics, links, and commentary circulating around a specific game, and the viewer can select what they want displayed on their “second screen.” Fans can choose to compare the real-time stats of two different players, or chat with other users about the game.

Internet Video: Snippets, Boutiques & Catch-up

As promised, here are short descriptions of the 3 distinct categories that seem to be emerging on the internet video content circuit.

Snippets are short, quick to watch and whilst focused on the screen, people are often also multi-tasking – talking on an internet phone or emailing links to friends for example. (YouTube)

Boutique is about task-based viewing where content is instructional or helps with information gathering around keen interests. People who are in this mode have high attention levels because of their interest in the subject matter (Baby Channel, GolfBug.tv).

Catch-up online is longer form in broadcast programme lengths and tends to be viewed in a more relaxed mode. This activity is really where the computer takes on the role of the second TV. (4oD, BBC iPlayer)

Snippets

• Short form; from 5 seconds to 5 minutes
• Amateur content
• Social; shared, forwarded, watched with friends
• Mindset is experimentation, discovery, entertainment
• Anytime media – work, home, mobile

Boutique

• Mini videos; from 2 to 5 minutes
• Independent professional content
• Privately consumed; cult, niche, obscure, watched in private
• Mindset is task based
• Evenings, weekends in home

Catch-up

• Longer form; from 5 minutes to feature length
• Professional/owned content
• PC becomes 2nd TV; private, comfortable, relaxed
• Needset is functional/convenient
• Peak time in home

Source