Gone are the days where Twitter was simply ?a place to send 140 word messages. Now, you can listen to music and watch photos and videos. And if sports cable TV giant ESPN has it’s way, you’ll be able to do even more.
Today ESPN will flaunt their relationship with Twitter to advertisers at an event. You see this on ESPN Sportscenter, when fans and pro athletes broadcast their tweets. Now they want to show highlights of major sports on Twitter. Don’t expect to see children’s diving though. These major sports will include the 2014 World Cup, the big 4 sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey) and the X Games. I didn’t know X Games were that popular, but I guess they are. ESPN’s goal is to sell? Twitter space to advertisers before the highlight; picture an ad coming on before a You Tube video. According to ESPN exec Eric Johnson, the goal is to push content wherever the fans are.
Twitter is growing up. Five years ago, few of us ever heard of Twitter. Today, it’s the fastest growing social media site of them all. ESPN and other media are taking note, so are advertisers. Plus, like I said in a previous blog, why spend so much on a TV show? A Twitter ad will reach more people. Which team will deliver a sports moment for you to tweet?
This week, I’ve been reporting a lot about other countries, like China and Israel. That got me thinking; which are the most Technologically Advanced Countries?as of May 2013? So here we go the top 10 as seen by Computer Geeks
10. The Netherlands: Over 33 percent of her residents have a computer in their home, one of the highest ratios in the world.
9. China: Many tech products are made there. They’re known for hacking into US systems. They’re perhaps the biggest technological consumers. They’d be ranked higher if there was more online freedom.
8. Finland: It’s where Nokia, the world’s biggest cell?phone provider was founded. ?Eighty-four percent of her citizens use the Internet regularly. During the last several years,?Finland has helped?lead the world in tech innovation.
7. United Kingdom: Online access and smartphones are easily accessible. It has Microsoft’s second highest market. And notice how often those Brits get the latest smartphones before us Yanks do!
6. India: Now before you laugh, keep in mind how much software comes from there. Like China, they’re booming and their consumer power for computer related products will only get bigger. When you call customer service for that broken machine, guess whose probably going to answer?
5. Israel: Their Waze could merger with Facebook. Their Tel Aviv tech startups rival those of the Silicon Valley.?Did you know?35% of their exports are tech related?
4. Singapore: They have perhaps the highest Internet speed in the world. Not only that, the majority of her citizens have more than one smartphone and they have the highest mobile phone ownership in the world.
3. South Korea: Samsung headquarters are here; that should be?enough ! But?they also have the highest Wifi speed in the world. They’re fast catching up with Japan as the east Asia powerhouse.
2. U.S.A.: The companies that started here: Google, Yahoo, Apple, Microsoft, Dell,?AT&T,?Facebook, You Tube; I can go on and on. The Silicon Valley is the tech capital of the world. Americans are on their smartphones so much it’s starting to get annoying. Say what you want, but without the United States, there would be no technological revolution.
1. Japan: Isn’t it enough to give the world Nintendo, Toshiba, Sony, NTT, Hitachi, etc.? They’re coming up with more stuff, like holograms, transporters, even technology to keep us safe from tsunamis and nuclear war. Have you seen their robots and toilets?
I know I left some countries out. I can’t wait to hear from you guys about it.
What do you mean we have to pay for You Tube channels?! If some You Tube suits and ties have their way, we’ll be paying for certain channels sooner than later.
They’re already talking to producers about charging users for channels.?As many as 50 video channels are ready to charge anywhere from $2-$5 a month for service, even if you look at one of their videos. Note You Tube execs didn’t say when this service will take place . When asked, they just gave a bunch of legal jumbo; “…[We’re] looking into creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great content to You Tube for our users…”. Not only that, Android You Tube users are seeing codes suggesting paid channels are closer than we think.
I’m going to be giving away my age here. I remember when cable was becoming popular around the country and in my neighborhood. My mom said, “Nobody is going to pay for something they can watch for free!” Then, Lifetime network came out.?And when kids at school talked about all the cool MTV videos, I pleaded with her to get cable. A?little while later, the cable man was at our house hooking up?this?magic box giving us 30 channels, instead of?four (CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS).?What I’m saying is?while?paying for?You Tube channels seem absolutely scandalous now,?if producers come up with a great?reason for us to pay for channels, this can open up the flood gates.??It happened with TV in the ’80s. What would a You Tube channel have to give in order for you to open your wallet or pocketbook?
And you though mudslinging was just in politics. Or maybe the success of new Samsung Galaxy?S4 got to their heads. But they’re launching a scathing attack on?Apple ‘s iPhone.
There’s a commercial out suggesting only the cool and hip use Samsung Galaxy 4 while only the old and the square use iPhone. Lately, Samsung has worked ceaselessly to be the cool popular kid on the block. After a brief hiatus from this image setting, they’re back at it. This commercial takes place at a high school graduation party, and the kids are celebrating with their Galaxy S4. Their parents, still using their iPhones, realize how behind the times they are. These kids aren’t shy about rubbing it in either. Since you can use Galaxy 4 as a remote control, I’m surprised they didn’t use it to check out their favorite reality TV shows.
We shouldn’t be surprised at this attack. A few months ago, Apple launched a massive boasting attack when competitors like Samsung. They even posted a website showing how good they are. But Galaxy S4 better look out: somebody’s going to be cooler and more popular than you one day. You know Apple will come fighting back. How will they do so?
I’ve reported about social media security issues several times this week. Let’s look at some major media hoaxes since 2010:
10. 83 and Tired: Bill Cosby allegedly posted a Facebook rant claiming he was 83 and tired of the nation’s problems. Not only did Dr. Cosby not write it, they didn’t even get his age right (he’s really 76). He went on national TV to clear his name.
9. Bald For Bieber: When a false report leaked that heartthrob Justin Bieber was diagnosed with cancer, a tweet?urging his?fans to go bald launched. Sadly, some did.
8. Facebook’s Gold Package: A couple of years ago, Facebook was to start charging $9.99 a month for Gold membership. Guess what? Facebook is still free, and that gold package was a golden egg.
7. Back to the Future:?So far this decade, Back to?the Future Day was in 2010, then in 2012. Both are wrong. According to Back to?the Future?II, the travel date was?October 21, 2015. Sorry Doc and Marty fans, you have to wait another?two 1/2 years.
6. Fake Celebrity Deaths:?What do Jackie Chan, Taylor Swift, Morgan Freeman and Eddie Murphy have in common? According to false Facebook posts, they all died this decade! So the next time you hear a celeb passing away, check a more trusted source!
5. Mante T’eo Girlfriend: He went from a promising Notre Dame Linebacker to America’s joke. This bizarre hoax involving a fake girlfriend even landed him on Dr. Phil.?Was he that na?ve or was he?even playing?along with the hoax?
4. Facebook?Shutting Down: An Internet rumor went around saying Facebook was going to shut down because founder Mark Zuckerburg wanted normalcy. You know they stopped that rumor real quick!
3. Hurricane Sandy Photos: Some of these look like?the Day After Tomorrow movie. They?even had sharks swimming in malls. Many of these pictures look more like Revelation’s apocalypse than a super storm. I’m sure if they would’ve stuck with real pictures of this?natural disaster, the meaning would’ve been even more powerful.
2. You Tube Shuts Down: According to the April Fools?joke in 2013, You Tube?was just a big video competition that was going to end on April 1. Good one!
1. Twitter Hoax Nearly Shuts Down Wall St.: To this point, these hoaxes have been cute, funny, and generally harmless. This was?everything but a laughing matter.?This hoax lied about President Obama’s security, sent stocks crashing, and in the wake of the Boston Marathon tragedy, could have sent America into chaos. I shutter?to think?what would have happened if?this social?media hoax continued.
Can you think of any social media hoaxes, since 2010, that top these?
What do the Edsel car, Crystal Pepsi, the XFL,?and Burger King’s bacon sundae?have in common? They were hyped up products that turned out to be disasters.?Thinking about where the Windows tablet might end up, I wonder what some recent tech flops are.
10. My Space: In the mid-2000s, this was the next big thing. But?My?Space couldn’t handle competition from?Facebook, You Tube or Google Plus. This New My Space has about as much potential as New Coke did in the 1980s.
9. Sony PSP Go: Great concept at the wrong time. This gadget was to download games. Well, by 2009-2010, you could do that on many of your hand held devices, and skipped the $250 this ill-timed electronic cost.
8. Google Buzz: Sometimes, it’s just best to stick with what you know. Nobody was using this social media. The only thing it was good for was for?critics to pounce on.
7. Sony Mylo: Remember these little guys? How are you going to attract 15-24 year olds with an expensive price tag and lack of PSP games? Sony Mylo lasted about two years.
6. HD Radio: This was supposed to be a plus?for?free radio service. They didn’t count the cost of manufacturing and poor marketing.?They didn’t count on competition from?Sony or Insignia.
5. Sony Aibo: I have fond memories of this electronic dog. But it got expensive and old, and by 2007, it got put down.
4. Facebook E-Mail: Aren’t there enough companies that offer email service?
3. Apple Maps: The Statue of Liberty site has no Statue of Liberty. The Eiffel Tower is cut in half. Woolworth’s lunch counters are still in service. Welcome to the world of Apple Maps.
2. Windows 8: It had the same capacities as Windows 7, except a start button. When a company makes a new product faction, that faction is?supposed to be better, not confuse everybody.
1. Microsoft Zune: In 2006, this was supposed to rival the iPod. Instead, it made it’s competition look so good. In 2008, Zune revenue was less than one percent of iPod. In 2011, this monstrosity was finally discontinued.
