YouTube Partner Program Hits the UK
January 31, 2008
YouTube announced the expansion of the YouTube Partner Program late last year, to give content creators and easy way to generate revenue from their videos. Now they are rolling it out into the UK.
Like the Internet itself, the YouTube community crosses borders and cultural boundaries. As part of our ongoing plan to reflect international user contribution to our service — we’ve already localized our service for 18 countries — we’re excited to announce that once again we are expanding the YouTube Partner Program, this time by rolling out the program internationally. First stop, the United Kingdom. Now anyone living in the UK can apply to become a partner at uk.youtube.com/partners.
The program has grown significantly since its initial launch, with millions of video views each day earning revenue for our partners. We look forward to bringing the YouTube Partner Program to more international users in the near future. To where will we expand next? Stay tuned…
Amazon.com to Buy Audible.com
January 31, 2008
Audible.com the online provider of premium digital spoken word audio content, specialising in digital audio editions of books, newspapers and magazines, television and radio programs and original programming. Through its web sites in the US and UK and alliances in Germany and France, Audible.com offers over 80,000 programs, including audiobooks from well-known authors such as Stephen King, Thomas Friedman, and Jane Austen, and spoken word audio content from sources including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Fresh Air and Charlie Rose.
“Audible.com offers the best customer experience, the widest content selection and the broadest device compatibility in the industry,” said Steve Kessel, Amazon.com’s senior vice president for worldwide digital media. “Working together, we can introduce more innovations and bring this format to an even wider audience.”
In recent months, Amazon has announced a number of innovations in the digital space, including Amazon Kindle, a revolutionary wireless portable reader that provides instant wireless downloads of more than 90,000 books, blogs, magazines and newspapers to a crisp, high-resolution electronic paper display.
Under the terms of the agreement, Amazon.com will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Audible.com for $11.50 per share and will assume Audible.com’s outstanding stock-based awards, for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $300 million which includes Audible.com’s cash and short-term investments at closing.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the second quarter of 2008.
Source: Amazon.com
Wordpress Prologue Gets an Update
January 30, 2008
Wordpress yesterday announced a new blog template called Prologue;
It’s called Prologue, and it’s a new theme for WordPress.com users and blogs running off hosted WordPress installs. The goal of the theme is to let anyone setup a microblog, either for themselves or as a group–both public and private. Users can post short, to-the-point messages to their blog without having to go through WordPress’ primary interface. It’s essentially doing what Twitter can’t, which is letting people create their own private groups and tag their posts for sorting later on.
From the feedback they have had over the past couple of days they have announced some improvements and new features
-
The front page now shows a stream of recent updates instead of one update per user
-
Pages now have their own template and look much better
-
Avatars are only shown once for sequential posts by the same author (front page and tag pages)
-
Post titles are no longer empty, they are generated based on the beginning of each post
-
Works out of the box for WordPress.org 2.3.2
The front page on Prologue originally only showed one post per user. Many people were confused by this or didn’t like it. After taking a step back I tend to agree, so a more traditional stream of the most recent posts is now shown. Pages are first class citizens again with their own template. Since posts in Prologue don’t have user supplied titles it now generates a title for WordPress based on the content of the post. This makes other features of WordPress work as expected (like the Recent Comments widget).
Microsoft & Dell go Red to fight against AIDS
January 27, 2008
Dell and Microsoft will offer customers a simple way to make a difference in the fight against AIDS in Africa through the purchase of unique (PRODUCT) RED branded personal computers and a printer. Adding to the premium experience, all Dell (PRODUCT) RED PCs are powered by Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED. Dell is the exclusive partner for PCs and peripherals for (PRODUCT) RED.
Dell (PRODUCT) RED products will be available at http://www.dell.com/joinred and at Best Buy stores throughout the United States by the end of the week. Beginning Jan. 31, they also will be available through Dell in nearly 30 additional countries.(RED), launched in 2006, is a brand designed to engage business and consumer power in the fight against AIDS in Africa. To date, (RED) partners have contributed more than $57 million to the Global Fund based on the sale of (PRODUCT) RED products. (RED) funds are at work on the ground in Rwanda, Swaziland and Ghana.
With each purchase of a (PRODUCT) RED branded Dell personal computer including Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED, Dell and Microsoft will make a combined contribution of $50 to $80, depending on the PC purchased, to the Global Fund. Purchase of a Dell (PRODUCT) RED printer generates a $5 Dell contribution. One hundred percent of the funds contributed go to Global Fund-financed grants in Africa.
An $80 contribution generated by the choice of a Dell (PRODUCT) RED all-in-one PC with Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED is equivalent to more than six months of life-saving antiretroviral treatment for an individual living with AIDS in Africa.
“The computer has revolutionised our lives; the (RED) Dell Microsoft partnership goes a step further with PCs which channel money to the Global Fund,” said Bono, co-founder of (RED). “It’s a truly beautiful idea that the purchase of a stylish PC can put someone on lifesaving ARV treatment for six months.”
Dell (PRODUCT) RED products are distinguished by their vibrant red colour and accents, and distinctive (PRODUCT) RED branding. All Dell (PRODUCT) RED PCs feature Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED includes six unique desktop wallpapers, a screensaver, two Windows Sidebar gadgets and a (RED)-themed Windows DreamScene.
Dell (PRODUCT) RED products include the following:
| • | XPS™ One (PRODUCT) RED. The elegant, simple and space-saving XPS One combines multimedia computing with high style, high-definition television and entertainment, and is a distinctive addition to any room in the home. Starting at $1,599. (Purchase contributes $80 to the Global Fund) |
| • | XPS™ M1330 (PRODUCT) RED. With a starting weight of just under 4 pounds and featuring an ultrathin 0.9-inch profile, the award-winning XPS M1330 notebook features a high-definition 13.3-inch display, full-sized keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi and optional mobile broadband wireless for connecting on the go. Starting at $1,149. (Purchase contributes $50 to the Global Fund) |
| • | XPS™ M1530 (PRODUCT) RED. The XPS M1530 is a sleek and stylish 15.4-inch notebook that is loaded with premium features such as built-in webcam and fingerprint reader, and design accents such as touch-sensitive multimedia buttons and brushed aluminum accents. Starting at $1,149. (Purchase contributes $50 to the Global Fund) |
| • | 948 All-in-One Printer (PRODUCT) RED. The 948 printer features easy-to-use fax, scan, copy and print functions and photo printing options — available with or without connection to a computer. Starting at $149. (Purchase contributes $5 to the Global Fund). |
“The combination of Microsoft, (RED) and Dell means consumers can help in the fight against AIDS in Africa by buying a great Dell PC that comes loaded with the best version of Windows Vista, with each purchase funding up to six months of life-saving drugs for someone in Africa through the Global Fund,” said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. “The (RED) business model is a powerful way for consumers to use their purchasing power to help bring about positive change in the world, and we are pleased to have Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED be an engine for that change.”
Amazon to Begin International Rollout of Amazon MP3
January 27, 2008
Amazon.com today announced that in 2008 the company will begin an international rollout of Amazon MP3, Amazon’s DRM-free MP3 digital music store where every song is playable on virtually any digital music-capable device, including the PC, Mac, iPod, Zune, Zen, iPhone, RAZR, and BlackBerry. Amazon MP3 is the only retailer so far to offer customers DRM-free MP3s from all four major music labels as well as over 33,000 independent labels.
“We have received thousands of e-mails from Amazon customers around the world asking us when we will make Amazon MP3 available outside of the U.S. They can’t wait to choose from the biggest selection of high-quality, low-priced DRM-free MP3 music downloads which play on virtually any music device they own today or will own in the future,” said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President of Digital Music. “We are excited to tell those customers today that Amazon MP3 is going international this year.”
Launched on Amazon.com in September 2007, Amazon MP3 offers Earth’s Biggest Selection of a la carte DRM-free MP3 music downloads, which now includes over 3.3 million songs from more than 270,000 artists. Every song and album in the Amazon MP3 music download store is available exclusively in the MP3 format without digital rights management (DRM) software and is encoded at 256 kbps to deliver high audio quality. Amazon MP3 customers are free to enjoy their music downloads using any hardware device; organize their music using any music management application, such as iTunes or Windows Media Player; and burn songs to CDs for personal use.
Most songs available on Amazon MP3 are priced from 89 cents to 99 cents, with more than 1 million of the over 3.3 million songs priced at 89 cents. The top 100 bestselling songs are 89 cents, unless marked otherwise. Most albums are priced from $5.99 to $9.99. The top 100 bestselling albums are $8.99 or less, unless marked otherwise. Buying and downloading MP3s from Amazon MP3 is easy. Customers can purchase downloads using Amazon 1-Click shopping, and with the Amazon MP3 Downloader, seamlessly add their MP3s to their iTunes or Windows Media Player libraries.
Amazon is not disclosing a specific launch timeline for individual Amazon international websites.
Kyte.tv now optimized for the iPhone
January 25, 2008
The iPhone-optimised Kyte Mobile Web application gives you access to your friends video and pictures. You can also search and browse for shows - including free premium content from artists such as G Unit’s 50 Cent and Prodigy - while chatting with your friends in real-time.
point your safari browser at http://m.kyte.tv
A New And Improved YouTube For Mobile
January 25, 2008
YouTube has announced the official debut of YouTube for Mobile, featuring a new and improved mobile website, m.youtube.com the new improvements include…
-
Millions of videos: YouTube for Mobile now features tens of millions of videos, which includes most of the videos already available on YouTube.com and your own uploaded videos.
-
Community on the go: You can now access your YouTube account, your Favorites, your own uploaded Videos and your favorite Channels. You can also share, rate, and comment directly from the mobile website to other YouTube users.
-
Mobile phone uploads available within moments: Now if you upload videos from your phone to YouTube via email/mms, they will appear within moments on both m.youtube.com and www.youtube.com. This means you can easily share videos you capture on your phone with your friends and family. All you need to do is create a mobile profile at www.youtube.com/mobile.
-
Global: Global: YouTube for Mobile is available and localized for the UK, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, Germany, and Russia.
In addition, they are also releasing a beta version of a downloadable application. It’s different from the YouTube for Mobile website (m.youtube.com) because it is a Java (J2ME) application you install on your phone, whereas m.youtube.com you access via your phone’s web browser. The app is available in US and UK English and supports the following phones:
-
Sony Ericsson k800, w880
-
Nokia e65, n95, n73, 6110 navigator and 6120 classic
To download the app, simply point your phone browser to m.youtube.com and if your phone’s one of the above, you should be prompted to download and install the application.
Skype to Support Voice and Video Calls on Intel Mobile Devices
January 25, 2008
At the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today, Skype announced its plans to collaborate with Intel Corporation to develop a new mobile Skype™ experience for Mobile Internet Devices (MID) based on Intel low-power processors and chipsets. MIDs are a new category of small, truly mobile consumer devices enabling a PC-like Internet experience, coupled with the capability to communicate with others, enjoy entertainment, and access information on the go.
The collaboration builds on the ease of use of Skype software and makes that experience mobile. MID users will be able to make Skype voice and video calls and send instant messages on the move, while harnessing the performance of Intel’s new ultra-mobile platform. MID devices with WiMAX and WiFi capabilities will enable free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls and cheap SkypeOut™ calls – calls from Skype to landline and mobile phone numbers anywhere in the world at low per-minute rates – to be made on open wireless networks.
“Many of the more than 246 million Skype users around the world are increasingly mobile and want to stay connected on the go,” said Gareth O’Loughlin, Skype’s general manager of mobile and hardware devices. “Making the richer Skype experience available on mobile devices partly hinges on the need for more processing power, which in turn tends to shorten battery life. Intel’s focus on lowering power consumption helps us minimize that conundrum, underscoring our evolution beyond the desktop. And it‘s good news to anyone who has found themselves missing Skype on the road.”
Skype will enable its software to run on the small, thin and light ultra-mobile MID devices with touch-screen LCDs, which are powered by Mobile Internet Linux. With the performance offered by Intel’s low-power processors and chipsets, some MID devices will even support mobile video calls over Skype.
“The emergence of Mobile Internet Devices represents an exciting new user experience,” said Pankaj Kedia, Director of Global Ecosystem Programs for the Ultra-Mobility Group at Intel Corporation. “Intel’s low-power technologies, combined with Skype’s optimized software, will enable MID users to easily stay in touch with their family and friends wherever they go.”
Skype is working with Intel to deliver its application software on the Mobile Internet Linux platform through Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs) and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). By bundling the Skype software on their devices, consumer electronics manufacturers can provide consumers with a rich internet communications experience – instant messaging, group chat, voice and video calls – right out of the box.
The first implementation of the Skype software for Mobile Internet Linux on Intel-based MID products is expected to be made available during the first half of 2008.
Apple Reports First Quarter Results
January 23, 2008
Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2008 first quarter ended December 29, 2007. The Company posted revenue of $9.6 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.58 billion, or $1.76 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $7.1 billion and net quarterly profit of $1 billion, or $1.14 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 34.7 percent, up from 31.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 45 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
Apple shipped 2,319,000 Macintosh® computers, representing 44 percent unit growth and 47 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 22,121,000 iPods during the quarter, representing five percent unit growth and 17 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. Quarterly iPhone™ sales were 2,315,000.
“We’re thrilled to report our best quarter ever, with the highest revenue and earnings in Apple’s history,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We have an incredibly strong new product pipeline for 2008, starting with MacBook Air, Mac Pro and iTunes Movie Rentals in the first two weeks.”
“Apple’s revenue grew 35 percent year-over-year to $9.6 billion, an increase of almost $2.5 billion over the previous December quarter’s record-breaking results,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Our strong results produced cash flow from operations of over $2.7 billion during the quarter, yielding an ending cash balance of over $18.4 billion. Looking ahead to the second quarter of fiscal 2008, we expect revenue of about $6.8 billion and earnings per diluted share of about $.94.”
Apple will provide live streaming of its Q1 2008 financial results conference call, the live webcast will begin at 2:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq108/ and will also be available for replay.
Hictu and Jajah Partner
January 23, 2008
Jajah, a web-activated telephony provider, and Hictu, a video micro-blogging service launched by Abbeynet last June, today announced Hictu’s complete integration of Jajah’s voice-calling capabilities into their technology platform.
Hictu users will be able to use Jajah service from within any micro-post on Hictu, simply by clicking on the green Jajah button embedded in their Hictu profile. Users will also be able to talk from their phone with any other Jajah customer or with any user who has previously registered a phone number in the Jajah section of their Hictu profile.
“We are very proud to announce this partnership with Jajah,” states Luca Filigheddu, CEO of Abbeynet. “Jajah is one of the fastest growing global Web telephony companies; a young company forecasted to play a leadership role in the future of Web-integrated communications.”
Developed in Italy and capable of competing over an international Web 2.0 scenario, the Hictu video micro-blogging platform lets users instantly publish text, audio and video messages online and share this content with friends and other Hictu users. Video and audio messages can be recorded directly from within Hictu webpages, turning the service into the “Twitter” for video micro-bloggers. Hictu enables users to update the world with their “real-time” status and activities, while integrating content from leading IM and VoIP services.
“Micro communities like Hictu are becoming daily places of congregation and are increasing in importance for their users,” says Roman Scharf, JAJAH co-founder. “It is our conviction to provide these spaces with the opportunity for web to voice capability to match the communication needs and preferences of its users. Hictu’s service is compelling and unique and we are thrilled to be working with them.”
