Will Your Future iPod Store 30,000 Movies?

In a development that involves steering single atoms in a certain way, IBM has announced a possible breakthrough in the ability to store large amounts of data in a minute amount of space. [Reuters UK via NewTeeVee]

"According to the scientists, this new technique would allow you to store up to 30,000 movies in a device about the size of an iPod. If that’s true, just imagine the amount of storage possible on a TiVo, DVR and even a computer."

New Web sites aim for TV experience

Watching video online in small, fuzzy boxes is heading the way of rabbit ears.

The Associated Press reports on Web sites which strive to make the experience of watching video online more like watching television. These sites rely on software that enlarges the interface so that it fills your computer screen — from edge to edge.

This new wave of applications is led by Joost and includes VeohTV and Babelgum. Though all are in beta (testing) phases, the hype has been mounting — leading many to claim the next big advance in online video is imminent.

These new sites, all of which are ad-supported and transmit video with peer-to-peer technology, are seeking to move beyond YouTube by improving video quality, attracting professionally produced content and expanding the viewing experience — which is to say: to be more like TV.

Each of the three work nearly the same way. You download the application from the respective Web site. When that's finished, you have a desktop icon that will launch the application. It then fills your screen with an on-demand-style choice of videos arranged in near broadcast-quality channels.

... Joost, Babelgum and Veoh have several heavyweights to compete with, including Microsoft's LiveStation, Apple TV and the recently unveiled Hulu, a joint venture of NBC Universal and News Corp."

Internet Pipes Can't Keep up in YouTube Age

A study warns that investment in network capacity may not keep up with increasing demands for bandwidth. PC World reports.

"If the network that carries Internet traffic were a highway, it would be as if every car owner, "rushed out and traded in their cars for massive 20-wheel trucks," stated the report from University of California-San Diego Professor Michael Kleeman, a senior fellow at the USC Annenberg Center for Communication.

In the report, titled "Point of Disconnect," Kleeman writes that there needs to be a massive expansion of network capacity in the United States, and even though network operators are making those investments, it still may not be enough to keep up with demand.

The report also calls for greater use of compression technology, especially for large video files, to reduce demands on the network. Kleeman noted that the number of new videos uploaded daily to the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube jumped to 65,000 at the beginning of this year from 20,000 at the beginning of 2006, and that one minute of video requires 10 times as much bandwidth as a voice phone call.

The USC study is one of a number of academic endeavors to rethink the Internet.

"The Internet needs a massive investment to keep up with the demands of YouTube fans, billions of e-mails and wireless access, a university study states.

Click here for related links to article raising bandwidth concerns

YouTube returns to Thailand

The Thai government this morning lifted the ban on YouTube after the owner, Google agreed to block video clips that break Thai laws or are deemed offensive to Thai people.

YouTube has been blocked in Thailand since April 3rd of this year when a person from the United States using the pseudonym "Paddidda", posted material which was insulting to the Thai monarchy.

Thailand’s Ministry of Information said YouTube has now created a program that would block sensitive vidoes from being accessed by Thai Internet service providers."

[via the Bangkok Post]

Bandwidth could be a new global 'currency'

This is wild. Bandwidth could become a form of "currency" with users paying for downloaded files by uploading more data themselves, researchers say. New Scientist reports.

"he goal is to ensure that future content, particularly video, is distributed as fairly and efficiently as possible.

Computer scientists have have used the idea to develop peer-to-peer file-sharing software, which they are asking computer users to try out. They hope eventually to create a "global marketplace in bandwidth", where people can trade it as a commodity.

The researchers' free software, called Tribler, uses a modified version of the popular BitTorrent file-trading algorithm."

Read more.

High prices questioned as Apple launches TV download service

After years of speculation, Apple launched its UK television download service, a project that allows customers to buy a handful of American television series through the company's massively popular iTunes Store. The Guardian reports.

But some experts said the service - whose offerings, for £1.89 a show, include the fictional series Lost, plus Ugly Betty, and Desperate Housewives - was much more expensive than in the US. The same purchases from the American iTunes Store, where television shows have been available for almost two years, cost just 99p ($1.99) an episode.

"The thing is that British TV viewers already have another place to go to catch up on programmes they have missed, thanks to download services like the BBC iPlayer, which is free," said Mark Mulligan, a technology analyst with Jupiter Research. "I wouldn't be surprised if they had to change their prices soon: we're in a situation where everything is always more expensive in Britain."

Apple refused to comment on how it arrived at the video download prices. "

YouTube sets royalty deal with UK songwriter group

Video-sharing Web site YouTube said on Wednesday that it has reached a deal with British licensing organizations that collect royalties on behalf of 50,000 composers, songwriters and publishers. [via Reuters]

"At a press conference in London, the MCPS-PRS Alliance, representing creators of more than 10 million pieces of music, announced a deal that allows users of the Google Inc. site to incorporate recorded music legally into videos."

The Wall Street Journal Online Adds First Video Podcast, 'Tech Diary'

The Wall Street Journal Online today announced the launch of a new video podcast, "Andy Jordan's Tech Diary." In a regular video segment that can be viewed free at www.wsj.com/techdiary.

WSJ.com technology reporter Andy Jordan chronicles the (often odd) stories that can be found when people and technology come together. He will spend time with people and the technology they use, watching what happens to the people -- and the technology.

[via Cyberjournalist]

Hulu: Hollywood's hope to hula YouTube into the dust

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on Hulu.com, a would-be challenger to YouTube, created by a coalition of Hollywood studios.

"The initiative, by NBC Universal and News Corp., parent of the Fox television network, is planned as an alternative to YouTube, which dominates Internet video with a mix of amateurish clips of pets behaving badly and pirated concert footage.

... No word on when you'll actually be able to see the clips on Hulu, or it's partners, Yahoo, MySpace, AOL and Microsoft's MSN. But the site is accepting requests to be part of the private beta test, which is expected in October."

Apple offers Europe TV downloads

Apple has started offering TV downloads in Europe, with fare from ABC Studios, Disney Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Comedy available for downloading from the U.K. iTunes online store. [via Variety]

"Titles include "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Ugly Betty" and "South Park," plus locally produced U.K. fare such as MTV's "Barrio 19."

Overall, 28 TV shows are involved in the initial lineup on iTunes UK.

Episodes cost £1.89 ($3.79) each and are available for download onto Macs and PCs, video-iPods and viewable on the Apple TV set-top box."

Jim Carrey on YouTube Calls to Action on Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi

Jim Carrey has taken to YouTube, writes eOnline, "releasing a public service announcement that calls for the release of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, a peace activist and icon of Burmese democracy who has been placed under long-term house arrest for her nonviolent efforts against the Southeast Asian nation's ruling military regime.

"She's a champion of human rights and decency in Asia and a symbol of hope to all struggling people," Carrey said of the world's only imprisoned Nobel Prize recipient in his 81-second message."

Watch world's TV shows for free

WhereverTV founded and led by Mark Cavicchia, has developed a Web site that streams live programming from 1,200 international TV channels using high-speed Internet and a computer. Pittsburgh Live reports.

By year's end, users will be able to download the programming using a high-end cell phone, such as a Nokia Nseries, that connects to a TV.

Channels broadcasting shows, news, weather and sports from about 100 countries are available and can be arranged in a guide by language, country or genre.

Interested in Ivory Coast programming? How about English cricket? An Italian movie? It's all on WhereverTV for free -- the company will make money off advertisements, not subscriptions, Cavicchia said.

Other Web sites offer similar streaming services but charge a fee.

By the end of October, Cavicchia will unveil a box that attaches to a TV set and a broadband connection, and streams the channels to that TV. The box, which will cost about $200, replaces the need for a computer to access the programming."

In Europe, a push by phone companies into TV

Several European phone companies plan to announce significant expansions of Internet protocol television, or IPTV, this week, led by Deutsche Telekom. The NY Times reports.

"The moves will put Europe, which some analysts say already is the leader in Internet TV, further ahead of the United States and Asia. But despite the flurry of worldwide interest in digital video, skeptics say it is not clear that IPTV has a future as a stand-alone business for telephone companies."

Rwanda: Political Group Loads Campaign Video On YouTube Website

The exile based party that hit the news recently over accusations against Rwandan Gen. Karenzi Karake has now taken its war of words to a video-sharing site YouTube with the hope to reach out to millions of people that access it everyday, RNA reports via AllAfrica.

"The Netherlands group United Democratic Forces FDU-Inkingi on Tuesday loaded a 9-minute video on YouTube.

... In the video that features hard-talking FDU-Ikingi president Ms. Victoria Ingabire, various clips of scenes have been edited purportedly showing grave living conditions of people in Rwanda that the party says it could put right.

There is also an image taken from a prison facility in Rwanda, to illustrate the ineffectiveness of the judicial system in the country. However most of the roll time of the video covers a conference that the top brass of the part attended.

There also appears an image of President Paul Kagame - who the group - some of whose members stand accused of Genocide crimes in Rwanda, claim they want to oust from office."

Shopisodes enable you to Dress Like Your Favorite TV Character

The E-Commerce Times reports on an ever-growing collection of interactive videos called Shopisodes, that allow consumers to shop for items directly from a clip of their favorite show. As the clip is playing, visitors can select and purchase the products that appear in the video.

"Easy navigation allows viewers to select a network, which then presents a number of options for viewing.

Until recently viewers would be hard pressed to actually locate that slinky little beige number worn by Lauren Conrad last week on "The Hills," even if they stuck around to watch the credits roll.

"I saw the 'Ugly Betty' Keds shoes, I wanted to have them, so I bought them," said Karie Porter, a 27-year-old social worker. Porter, an "Ugly Betty" fan, said she regularly visits entertainment based e-commerce site, SeenON!.

... Retailers and the entertainment industry have been a combined force for years. Designers jump at the chance to drape their latest fashions across celebrity shoulders in an effort to reach the consumer. And now a revolution in shopping online is occuring that has ushered e-commerce into the realm of 3.0.

SeenON! and it's parent company Delivery Agent - "The Leader in Shopping Enabled Entertainment", links to online retailers that sell products seen on television, in films and music videos, and in the sports world.- , GET Interactive TV and magazine style sites like Celebrity Style Guide and Glam consumers can pick and choose from almost anything they see in the entertainment world."

Online video study shows older than expected audience

Advertising.com Inc. has released the results of its bi-annual video study, an in-depth analysis of consumer behavior as it relates to online video viewing and response to video advertising. Tech Journal South reports.

"Study results indicate that the majority of consumers are viewing video online, at 62 percent of survey respondents. Contrary to popular opinion, these viewers are not just young adults viewing user-generated videos; in fact, most (69 percent) are ages 35 and older with a preference for viewing news clips online.

Other key findings include:

-- More news, user-generated content: In the first half of 2007, 62 percent of consumers viewed news clips online, followed by movie trailers at 38 percent. Music videos came in third at 36 percent, decreasing from 47 percent in the second half of 2006.

-- Tastes differ by age: The 18 to 34 year old audience prefers entertainment content such as music videos and TV shows. They also create more online video content than those ages 35 and older. In contrast, the 35 and older audience is more likely to view news. Compared to the previous study, 18 to 34 year olds are streaming more movies, TV shows and user-generated videos; while those 35 and older are streaming more sports clips and user-generated videos than previously reported.

-- Catching up on TV, not replacing it: 51 percent of survey respondents would watch a television episode online if they missed it on TV; but 80 percent of consumers say that online video usage does not cut into their TV time. "

E! Launches Multimedia News Series

E! Entertainment Television will launch E! News Now, an expansion of its online entertainment news content. The multimedia series will cover breaking news with video segments specifically designed for non-linear platforms.

E! aims to produce twelve video news segments a day at two minutes each, featuring reporters Ashlan Gorse and Valery Ortiz. The segments will be made available on broadband, and by mobile phone.

[via Broadcasting&Cable]

Content Wanted

A rising tide of marketer interest in Web video is lifting all sorts of Internet boats. The WSJ reports.

"... Online video has become the fastest-growing category of Internet ad spending in the past year, according to research firm eMarketer -- so much so that advertisers now frequently complain about the shortage of video content worthy of sponsorship.

Marketers are finding it hard to buy enough space on traditional TV networks' Web sites, which stream some network prime-time programs. Ad space is available alongside the user-generated videos that draw millions of visitors to video-sharing sites like
YouTube, but advertisers are wary about sponsoring videos that might be embarrassing or risqué. YouTube's new ad format, unveiled last week to intense advertiser interest, limits ads to videos from selected partners.

As a result, niche Web programs like "Geek Entertainment TV" -- and others on subjects ranging from comic-book news to fast cars and fashion -- are attracting the attention of some big marketers."

Read full article

Sony Unveils First All-In-One High-Def PC/TV With Blu-Ray Disc Technology

Fusing powerful PC performance with a stylish LCD, Sony yesterday introduced a striking new high-definition PC/TV model, the SONY VAIO LT.

Part of a series, the new LT PC/TV comes in multiple configurations, including a standard and an HD model. The high-definition version features a Blu-ray Disc(TM) optical drive so you can enjoy high-definition movies, as well as record, store and play back personal content on high-capacity BD media (up to 50 GB on a single disc).

Read more in Press release

MPs seek to tackle gang videos on web

MPs are ready to begin a parliamentary inquiry into how to prevent young people gaining access to violent video clips, such as those that glamorise gang and gun culture, on internet sites such as YouTube. [via The Telegraph]

"John Whittingdale, the chairman of the cross-party Commons culture, media and sport select committee said he was "very interested" in an investigation into how to limit access to unsuitable material across the "new media".

Concern about the way gangs promote themselves by placing violent video clips - including scenes with guns -on the internet has grown since the shooting of Rhys Jones in Croxteth.

Two local gangs had placed clips on the internet that glorified their activities. Last weekend London gangs used the internet to warn rivals of trouble that they would cause at the Notting Hill Carnival."

How three Swedish geeks became Hollywood's Number One enemy

The Guardian reports on The Pirate Bay, one of the sharpest thorns in the side of the media business. Its controversial success - more than two million visitors every day - has caused havoc in the music, TV and film industries.

"Current top downloads include The Bourne Ultimatum, Die Hard 4.0 and Knocked Up — all showing in British cinemas, but available to watch on a computer screen for those willing to take the risk.

The three-year campaign to bring down the website is almost an epic of Hollywood proportions, sprinkled with high-flying lawyers and accusations of political extremism. And yet, so far, the chase has failed to bring the pirates down.

Despite their high profile, however, the men behind The Pirate Bay are not part of an organised crime syndicate. Instead, they are an unlikely trio of Swedish computer geeks who began their war with the media from a small room in Stockholm.

... The site does not profit its founders, and money raised from advertising is used to cover expenses. Instead, he says, the team make their money from a variety of side projects and day jobs.

The crux of the defence is that The Pirate Bay operates like any internet search engine: it points to downloads, rather than hosting any illegal content itself. Under Swedish law this has so far made it immune to prosecution. "

Read full article.

Jewish group in Germany mulls complaint against YouTube

Germany's Central Council of Jews is considering a criminal complaint against YouTube for allowing videos that promote racial hatred and glorify war, reports Haaretz.com.

"... Program researchers said it was possible to watch videos on YouTube of an anti-Semitic film released by the Nazis during World War II called Jud Suess.

Outlawed videos of the neo-Nazi groups Kommando Freisler and Landser were also available on the Web site, the television program broadcast by Germany's ARD network said."

Vint Cerf predicts the end of TV as we know it

"TV is rapidly approaching the same kind of crunch moment that the music industry faced with the arrival of the MP3 player.

85% of all video we watch is pre-recorded, so you can set your system to download it all the time. You're still going to need live television for certain things - like news, sporting events and emergencies - but increasingly it is going to be almost like the iPod, where you download content to look at later."

-- Vint Cerf , talking at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

[via The Guardian]

Nodz.tv Helps You Discover The Web’s Best Video

nodt.tv is a new social video sharing site started by three ex-Microsoft (UK) employees.

With nodt.tv we bring you the best videos your friends and other people like you have been enjoying. We also make it simple to share your own recommendations and favourites, and even create channels to publish to your blog or social network.

[via Blognation]

Fox Streaming K-Ville, Prison Break

Fox will be streaming the pilot of of their new show (to US viewers only) K-Ville, and offer “first look” at season three of Prison Break, featuring the first 17 minutes of the season premiere.

"It is critical that we embrace the Internet as a distributed medium that promotes engagement with users, wherever they are on the Web,” said William Bradford, senior vice president of content strategy for Fox. “This approach reinforces the importance of involving fans to assist with marketing the show through word of mouth and discussion forums across the Internet.”

[Broadcasting&Cable]

Finnish Boy Fined for YouTube Vide

A 15-year-old schoolboy was fined Friday for posting a video on YouTube showing a karaoke performance of his teacher and for claiming she was a lunatic.

"In the first case of its kind in Finland, Nurmes District Court found Toni Vesikko guilty of intentional defamation and fined him $120. He also was ordered to pay $1,000 in damages for "causing harm and suffering" and $3,000 in court costs.

The video, which Vesikko called in English "Karaoke of the mental hospital," named the teacher and said she was "a lunatic singing at the karaoke of the mental hospital."

Vesikko's actions caused the teacher to suffer anxiety, depression and insomnia. The video was watched more than 600 times before it was removed from YouTube."

[The Washington Post]

YouTube vows to protect video makers in InVideo ads

Google has promised to give content makers control over advertisements overlaid on video clips they post to its YouTube video sharing Web site. MacWorld reports.

"Only videos from content creators that have signed up for the advertising scheme, called InVideo, will host ads, leaving the majority of videos on YouTube free of the overlays, a Google spokesman said Friday.

Advertisers will still be able to reach a large audience through YouTube videos even if the company only places ads in a small portion of videos."

How To Block YouTube's Controversial New In-Stream Ads

According to Wired Blogs, it's possible to block ads on YouTube, provided you’re using a Mozilla-based browser - at least so far.

"The Mozilla browser add-on TubeStop will replace all the video players on the YouTube site with the embedded player, which thus far do not support the in-stream ads."

YouTube Adds Comment Ratings

Now users can give comments “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” similar to Digg. [via NewTeeVee]

Spanish television tiptoes out of bullring

State-run Spanish TV has quietly dropped live coverage of bullfighting, ending a decades-old tradition of showcasing the national pastime on the grounds that the deadly duel between matador and beast is too violent for young viewers. The IHT reports.

"For the first time since Televisión Española's very first broadcast in 1948 - of a bullfight in Madrid - this season there have been no bullfights shown live on state-run channels, just taped highlights on a late-night program for aficionados.

In practical terms, the unpublicized decision by the Socialist government is largely symbolic. Of the hundreds of bullfights that fill the March-October calendar each season, state-run TV only tended to broadcast about a dozen anyway. Pay TV channels and stations owned by regional governments are full of bullfights.

Still, many in the bullfighting world are livid, as is the conservative opposition, over a move they see as slighting a cherished piece of Spanish culture."