Digital Crosstalk

It was a Merry Christmas for viewing online videos

Posted by Brian | Filed under blogging

It comes as no surprise but the popularity of viewing online videos continues to dominate those who are connected to the World Wide Web. This was especially true for December 2008, which saw more than 30 million people watching online video clips, according to comScore – the internet market research organisation.

It was found that most of the viewings took place on YouTube, which saw approximately 23 million users have their eyes glued to the popular internet video portal – this counts for nearly 77% of the online viewers during December. Interestingly, it was the BBC who obtained the second highest amount of viewers, with almost 7 million users. Microsoft and eBay then closely followed suit.

In comparison, this was a 13% increase to that achieved in December 2007. The reason for this increase is unknown but could be due to a range of factors, including more broadband users and an increase in the number of people who use the internet as their main source for entertainment. In fact, many would argue that the internet is slowly creeping up on television as the consumer’s main choice of media. As such, music related searches appear to be the most popular reason for using YouTube.

The US market was also largely dominated by YouTube in December 2008, which further displays how much online users regard the internet video portal as a popular source of entertainment. The uses of YouTube are also continuing to diversify – a singing contest is due to take place where the winner is selected on the basis of performance, originality and popularity of their video on YouTube.

Tags: digital

Will Google and AOL part ways?

Posted by Brian | Filed under blogging

Back in 2005, when things were a little rosier for AOL, Google decided to invest $1 billion for a 5% stake in AOL. Sadly AOL just didn’t perform like Google wanted.

When Google bought their stake in AOL, it effectively valued AOL at around $20 billion. Last month Google put a figure on that investment of just $726 million making AOL worth roughly $5.5 billion.

Last week Google sent a request to AOL to exercise the “demand registration statement” on its stake in AOL.

When Google invested, it included a clause which stated that Google had the right to force Time Warner to take AOL public or buy AOL’s stake back.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for owners Time Warner, who just posted a $16 billion loss in the 4th quarter.

But is Google really looking to end the deal completely?

One popular theory floating around the blogosphere is that Google is simply looking for a better deal. By simply asking for a massive refund in the midst of Time Warner’s recent financial postings about AOL’s performance, Google put themselves in a clever position for negotiating.

It’s unlikely that either Google or Time Warner think it’s a good idea to float the AOL stock, so in essence Google is simply calling in the tab. Which leaves us with two options, either Google is trying to get a better search services deal from AOL or simply trying to get as far away from the struggling web company as possible.

While Google has said that it wants to continue working with AOL, only time will tell whether these two companies will part ways.

Tags: digital

Say Hello to Britannica 2.0

Posted by Brian | Filed under blogging

Back in the 90s most families had a copy of Encyclopaedia Britannica, a CD-ROM that normally came free with their home computer. Back then this was something new, a move from the dusty collection of books within which the world’s information was once contained.

While Britannica safely made the move from the bookshelf to the CD-ROM, it never fully embraced the power of the web and was soon replaced by Wikipedia. Since then Wikipedia and Britannica have battled it out for internet market share, with Wikipedia leaving Britannica far behind picking up the pieces by the roadside.

Each with their own advocates, Wikipedia users are always quick to point out that Britannica’s model is outdated while Britannica users are always quick to point out that Wikipedia’s model is more prone to error.

In fact Britannica has even taken a snap at Google and their decision to constantly display Wikipedia at the top of the SERPs.

Now, however, Britannica has decided to make a compromise.

While they don’t fully agree with Wikipedia’s model, they understand the importance of user-generated content. To combat the ‘error-prone model’, Britannica 2.0 as it has been dubbed, won’t be instantly updated but instead will be checked by a member of Britannica’s editorial staff or a freelance editor before publication.

So is it too late for Britannica? Certainly Wikipedia has taken a vast share of the market, but there may be a gap there if Britannica proved to be more authoritative. Britannica was once the encyclopaedia of choice for many, in hardback and CD-ROM form, and many universities and academic institutions have advised students against using Wikipedia.

Only time will tell whether Britannica can relive its glory days, but no doubt the four century old knowledgebase will put up a fair fight against the Web 2.0 wonder.

Tags: digital

Pro-mafia Facebook groups cause concern

Posted by Brian | Filed under blogging

It seems the growing popularity of Facebook has got more than just MySpace worried. Italian anti-mafia activists are growing concerned by the increasing number of Facebook groups and pages exalting jailed mafia bosses and their actions.

What worries the anti-mafia groups even more is the number of young people who are joining these groups as the criminal actions of the mafia become increasingly romanticised. Two of the main cult heroes of the moment are Toto Riina and Bernardo Provenzano who, combined, spent more than 60 years at large before their arrests in 1993 and 2006.

Rita Borsellino – the sister of Paolo, who was killed in a car bombing in the 90s that was ordered by Riina and Provenzano – has called for laws against those who are pro-mafia just as there are laws against people who are pro-Nazi.

Borsellino said: “An instrument like Facebook, which is universal and can be used by anyone, should make an examination of conscience and give itself some rules instead of making heroes out of these murderers.”

One of the biggest groups of its kind on Facebook disbanded after an Italian newspaper wrote about the pro-mafia groups last week and Italian magistrates have warned that any users who join the remaining groups could be investigated on suspicion of involvement in organised crime.

The media coverage of pro-mafia groups has sparked a surge in anti-mafia groups as campaigners look to address the balance.

Tags: digital