Mar 26, 2014 | Computer technology, internet
In an era where mergers and mega-corporate are almost daily, Facebook makes another statement. After spending billions on getting the What’s App, they made another mega purchase.
Facebook is in the process of buying Oculus VR? for approximately two billion dollars. Oculus is a premier virtual reality company. Some say it leads the world in virtual reality, the kind where you put a headset over your eyes and are transported to another world. Why would Facebook do this? Facebook CEO Zuckerberg believes virtual reality, not just gaming, is the wave of the future. He doesn’t seem to be worried about competition from Microsoft or anyone else, it’s been rumored they’re working on a virtual reality project. Some worry this merger will compromise Oculus’s creative integrity. Facebook assures that won’t happen.
I hope so. I will give Facebook credit: during their previous purchases, they’ve let the smaller companies run as the small companies see fit. It sounds like Oculus will get the same freedom. But is virtual reality the wave of the future? I’m having a tough time seeing it happen. Then again, 20 years ago, I had a tough time seeing a cell phone in every hand. Ten years ago, I thought everyone would still be listening to CDs. Five years ago, I didn’t think I would have You Tube or Facebook on my iPod Touch. So who am I to say virtual reality won’t be the? wave of the future? Will this help?
Mar 25, 2014 | Entertainment
How much media does Disney own? Let’s count: There’s ABC, ESPN, Lucasfilm (think Star Wars), A&E channels, Lifetime, History Channel, Marvel Entertainment, just to name some. But why stop there?
The Walt Disney Co. is purchasing Maker Studios, one of You Tube’s largest video producers and studios, for a half billion dollars at least. That number could reach as high as $950 million. It’s videos target Millennials,, those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, who can’t get enough of online entertainment. Maker videos have over 380 million subscribers worldwide. Their videos span over 55,000 channels. They collect over a combined 5.5 million views every month. Their backers include Time Warner Investments. This deal is expected to be done by the third fiscal quarter, or by June 2013.
On the surface, this looks like progress. It looks like two giants are coming together to reach out to a generation. But is it necessary?? I understand Disney is trying to reach out to teens and young adults, but can’t the media Disney already have do that? And if Maker Studios have Time Warner and other major investments backing them up, why do they need Disney? You see, my concern is that when a mega media corporation buying out a smaller medium, is that the quality of the content sometimes goes down. Look at what happen to BET when Viacom bought that cable channel out. Could this happen to Maker Studios?
Mar 24, 2014 | Wireless
It seems the world’s largest cable company and one of the world’s largest computer company are collaborating. But why? And is there a bigger reason than what we’ve been given?
Comcast and Apple are trying to hook up a TV streaming service using Apple set-top boxes and Comcast’s cable services to bypass Web congestion. Apple hopes users will stream TV programming and DVRs in a cloud, instead of using the old cable box that I grew up on. Comcast would be good for Apple because if this deal goes through, their TV traffic would be separated from their Internet traffic. Apple and Comcast are nowhere near an agreement, but this is worth watching.
Have you heard the news? Cable TV is dying. Cable ratings have dropped every year in this 2010s decade. For the first time ever, cable subscriptions will hit below 40 million, despite more people having access to TV services. So maybe Apple will save the day for Comcast. But it does explain why Comcast is buying up Time Warner and other major corporations,? maybe to save what little is left of cable. Maybe they’re teaming up with Apple because they know cable TV has past the point of no return. This is the scary thing: what if our rates go up because of this? What if these two join up and more companies are bought up because of this alliance? Am I being too cynical here?
Mar 23, 2014 | internet, News
Yesterday, I talked about Turkey’s crackdown…well…let’s call it outright ban on Google and Twitter and what a firestorm it’s causing. Now, Google itself addresses the issue.
Google rejected Turkey’s request to take down You Tube videos reporting Turkish government corruption. They’ve been embroiled in scandal recently, and insiders say Google won’t take such exposing videos down is because it’s an illegal move. But many at Google fear Turkey’s shutdown of You Tube is just a matter of time, but as of Friday, March 21, 2014, it was still up. The videos Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan wants taken down include him allegedly instructing his son to hide money from investigators. But Google is known for it’s refusal to take down videos, especially when governments get involved. “We support a free and open Internet throughout the world and are concerned whenever and wherever it comes under threat,” one Google employee said.
Legal or not, this is the right thing to do. No government anywhere should be telling major online corporations what and what not to post. Yes, there are controversies about what might be inappropriate or not, but that’s up to the people and parents to decide. That’s not even what’s going on here. What’s going on here is a Erdogan got caught in an alleged wrongdoing and now he’s censoring the Web and wants Google to help him cover his hide. Even a 5th grader can figure this one out. But I give props to Google for taking a stand like this. But I am concerned for Turkey and the people. If the Prime Minister is going this far just to hide this minor of an offense, what other skeletons might he have?
Mar 22, 2014 | internet, News
Several months ago, I did a top 10, or should I say bottom 10, on the most censored countries in the world when it comes to the Internet. Maybe I should redo that list.
Turkey, considered a moderate Middle Eastern nation, votes to widen online censorship. The Turkish government has blocked Google and Twitter access. And the people don’t like it. They’re getting around it by typing 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 to access these websites. People are even using graffiti to bunk this system. That’s right: they’re painting these codes in public squares so that their neighbors can have the access they deserve.??It’s already been dubbed one of the worst attempts at censorship of all-time. Adding more insult, the Turkish people are using Open DNS and VPN, assuming they’re still going.
Good for the Turkish people. I applaud what they’re doing to stand up against censorship. Just like in previous periods of history, non-violent rebellion works. I hope the government gets the message. Why should America and the rest of the west even care? Keep in mind if a moderate nation is using such extremes to enforce censorship, whose next? They’re not the only ones. I read one article where Russia and China could take over the whole Internet. Knowing their governments’ track record, you trust online freedom to these two nations? And whose to say other governments won’t follow Turkey’s example?
Mar 21, 2014 | networking, News
Last year, Al Jazeera, the leading news network in the Middle East, set up shop in the United States. It’s been kind of slow, and C.E.O. Ehab Al-Shihabi addressed the issue.
According to the C.E.O. of Al Jazeera America, his company is in very good financial standing and it will take time to get it off the ground. It hasn’t been exactly a ratings hit. Sometimes, it doesn’t get even 20,000 viewers at a time. But it’s making grounds. It secured a spot with Time Warner Cable and is preparing a major market campaign. It’s hired world class reporters, like former ABC news executive Kate O’Brian.? Mr. Al-Shihabi urges patience; these are the early stages. He says, “…we’re building a great news organization. Not for next week-but for the next year and next decade and years to come.”
Personally, I hope Al Jazeera America is successful. I say this because I think there is a hunger for global and credible media. Al-Shihabi says we’re heading for a golden age of global media. I hope this global golden age is better than the mainstream age. I’m not the only one. According to one poll in Feb. 2013, only 6% trust the mainstream news media very much, while 12% have no trust in it at all. More and more people are turning to alternative and/0r global media for credible reporting. Plus, when the media tells us more about Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus than they do about major bankers mysteriously dying, maybe it’s time for a change. For that reason, if Al Jezeera America can help give us real news, then I say bring it on. But will they?
Mar 20, 2014 | General
Are you tired of those ads on your mobile device? Guess what? They are not going anywhere anytime soon.
In 2013 alone, mobile ad spending?more than doubled?from what it was in 2012. It’s now up to nearly $18 billion worldwide. That trend is expected to increase this year. By the end of this year, mobile spending ad should increase to around $31.45 billion. Google and Facebook alone made up for around two thirds?of the difference. Twitter Pandora and YP made up a combined minor percentage, while ‘others’ made up to around 25 percent. It’s also estimated by eMarketer mobile ad devices now make up for over half of all digital advertising.
Clearly, this is the wave of the future. But I noticed only Facebook and Google made up for over half of the entire mobile ad market. I always thought Twitter was the more popular social media site, especially among the younger generation. Yet they only have around 2.5% of today’s mobile ad market. What about You Tube, as much as it’s grown? And what about Netflix? It’s one of the fastest growing avenues of entertainment today. Have you guys seen House of Cards recently, and how much buzz it’s getting? Why are Google and Facebook dominating the mobile ad market?
Mar 19, 2014 | internet
There’s a new book about Apple. I don’t know when the release date is, but CEO Tim Cook isn’t giving it an A rating, or even a passing grade for that matter.
The name of the book is called Haunted Empire. The author is Yukari Iwatani Kane. He’s a former tech reporter for Wall Street Journal. This book says Apple’s best days are behind them, they will never be another Steve Jobs era, and that Apple is in decline. The book includes 200 interviews from Apple insiders (current and former employees and partners). Current CEO Tim Cook is outraged. In a statement, he called the book ‘nonsense’. He defended Apple and all 85,000 of his employees, claiming doubters like Kane have made the company stronger.
Wow, Mr. Cook, you’re getting mighty defensive, almost to the point where you’re telling Kane, “Those are fighting words!” But maybe Kane has a point. At one time, in September 2012, Apple stock was worth over $685 a share. As of today, March 18, 2014, it’s worth around $535. It may never get back to $685, but the price is better than it was at this time last year (around $420 a share). And Apple’s latest products have done fairly well. But the competition in the last several years have done equally as well, and probably, a little better at times. Every time I go to an Apple store, the joint is jumping. So is Cook right to criticize Kane for this scathing book, or is this book the hard truth?
Mar 18, 2014 | internet
You Tube is going on nine years old, and has countless videos. Let’s face it, many things on You Tube aren’t exactly family friendly. That’s where this spinoff comes in.
There are reports that You Tube is building a spinoff version aimed at children under the age of ten and their parents. This isn’t a You Tube channel; this is a whole other You Tube system. The goal is to load only family friendly and education videos and to monitor and block racy, obscene and inappropriate comments. Don’t look for any kind of date; don’t look for Kiddie You Tube to come anytime soon. But there is a You Tube EDU that’s used in schools strictly for education purposes. But even then, some advertisements have been called questionable.
I like this idea. As much as I enjoy You Tube, I’d be scared to let any small child look at it. Even for G and PG rated videos on there, comments can get down right NC-17 and X rated. They should think about that as they build this new You Tube system. Also, watch the advertisers. Even the most innocent of commercials can contain subtle messages you don’t want children getting. There are some companies I don’t think should be involved anyway. For instance, any company in whose products could lead to child obesity or bullying or other bad lifestyle habits shouldn’t be advertising on this Kiddie You Tube site. And they need to watch that comment box with an eye that rivals big brother. It’s a lot easier to be nasty behind a screen than it is to someone’s face. Do you think a Kiddie You Tube will be successful?
Mar 17, 2014 | Computer technology
In the last few years, health has been a huge selling commodity in the technology field, from heart monitors to calorie counting apps. It’s about time Apple took advantage of that.
Apple is now releasing an application called Healthbook. The Healthbook has cards distinguished by colors and category. These categories include, but aren’t limited to: activity, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, nutrition, sleep, physical activity, even oxygen saturation. For example, your activity can be calculated down to the steps you’ve taken and the miles that have added up over the days, weeks or months. The weight card can take your weight, but can measure your BMI, body fat percentage, and update it over time. The sleep tracker can measure your light sleep, heavy sleep, what time you feel asleep, and compare it to how much sleep you really need. The Healthbook also contains an emergency card. This could be critical during a hospital visit. You can give this to a caretaker if you’re ever in a position you can’t speak for yourself.
This looks like a great thing to have. I’m just surprised Apple didn’t came up with this wonderful creation sooner. Health and technology has been on a collision course for years (and a good one). But I’m glad Apple released this now. One must admit, this is a pretty complex package and I can see it took some time to make. Would you use Heathbook or recommend it to someone.
