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• Facebook shuts down top applications

  

  Facebook has been forced to shut down two of it’s top applications this week after ‘privacy violations’.

  Top Friends (which I’m sure most of you have heard of) was created by Slide and lets you to rank your friends in order of how much you like them. It was Facebook’s forth biggest application, but had to be removed after a hacker published users’ private details.

  Hi Social was around the 25th most popular application on Facebook, with over 280,000 daily active users. The app lets uses find out what their friends really think of them, but has also had to be removed.

  Facebook has said they are looking into each case and the Information Commissioner’s Office are meeting with Facebook this week to discuss the privacy issues on the site.

  Industry news Social Networking/ Word Of Mouth applications Facebook hacker Hi Social Information Commissioner's Office popular privacy security Slide top Top Friends users

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  by Laura: Friday, 4 July 2008

• 29% of young people have watched TV online

  

  New research by the IPA has shown that almost a third of people between the age of 15 to 25 have watched TV via the internet. And around 18% of people aged between 25 and 64 (a very broad ‘old people’ category or what?!) had too.

  The IPA Touchpoints report surveyed over 5,000 people and also looked at mobile behaviour. It was found that 30% of 15 to 24 year olds watch video clips on their phones, with 13% of all mobile users doing so.

  Jim Marshall, chairman of the IPA Media Futures Group, said, ” the young are still driving the take-up and use of digital media and new technology, however, the older age groups are also moving steadily towards greater adoption.” Personally, I would have thought that more than a third of 15 to 25 year olds would have watched TV online, but I suppose if this statistic was expressed as a number than a percentage it would seem greater.

  Just as an extra update - overall broadband penetration now stands at 73% of all UK adults, with internet usage at an average of 45 minutes on weekdays and just over an hour at weekends.

  Industry news Mostly Mobile New Technology research broadband Internet mobile phone new online report Statistics tv video

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  by Laura: Friday, 4 July 2008

• TokBox brings video chat to Facebook

  

  TokBox, the web-based video chat tool is bringing video chat to Facebook via their TokBox Facebook application. TokBox’s current app is just like any other chat facility, but their new functionality takes them into a new league - enabling users to have a video chat within their Facebook chat.

  TokBox’s web-based platform is a Flash-enabled browser plugin. It makes the video chat process really easy to use - there are not downloads or any difficult setups - as long as you have a working webcam or computer microphone, you are ready to go…

  You just need to install the TokBox plugin for Facebook (which is only supported for Firefox at the moment). Underneath each of your friends’ names there will be a link which will give you the option to start a video chat with them. Then you just need to tell the app that you allow access to the webcam, and you’re off. As with all TokBox video chat conversations, you’ll see your screen on the left, and the screen of your friend on the right (so it will look like below…)

  

  TokBox also allows you hold multiple video chats at once, with each chat in its own window (like standards chats).

  Cool & Online New Technology Social Networking/ Word Of Mouth video Facebook social networking friends live application Flash chat TokBox plugin

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  by Laura: Friday, 4 July 2008

• Live video streaming direct from your mobile

  Bored with Twitter? Fed up with Twinkle? Step it up a level and stream video direct from your mobile phone to the web using Qik!

  

  The core idea is that you download a small application onto your phone, sign up to qik.com and then simply stream whatever you fancy direct to the Internet. Videos can be watched live or at a later date via qik.com.

  To make it happen you’ll need a pretty modern phone though. Windows Mobile and iPhone support has just been added to Symbian OS, covering many modern handsets, but still leaving many needing an upgrade (like myself).  Qik also advise that you get yourself an unlimited data plan.  I imagine this is a wise step.  Qik is probably the sort of app that would ruin someone on pay-as-you-go fairly swiftly.

  Right now it all seems pretty fresh.  The website looks sparkly and web 2.0 enough, but the videos seem to show people dipping their toes into the service.  There are lots of short clips of people videoing their computers / desks / the ceiling etc..!

  The functionality is all there, however, and well layered. There isn’t that feeling of being overwhelmed that you sometimes get when confronted with just too much functionality. Most of this is through the clever use of tabs and a well laid out, crisp design.

  It has all the syndication features you’d expect from a descent app. You can access user’s video feeds via RSS.  You can even make Qik update your Twitter feed every time you post a video!

  Fresh from securing $3 million in funding, Qik seems to be securing it’s status as the market leader in live video streaming direct from mobile phones.  It will be interesting to see how the service grows and blossoms as it moves beyond the early-adopter phase.

  PS: Benn can I have an iPhone please so I can play with Qik?

  Cool & Online Mostly Mobile New Technology Internet iPhone live mobile phone Qik streaming Symbian OS Twitter video Windows Mobile

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  by Dave G: Thursday, 3 July 2008

• Viacom vs. Google (Part 2)

  

  Viacom’s legal battle with Google over YouTube’s alleged copyright infringement has developed further since my first installment. Viacom, which owns MTV and Paramount Pictures, alleged that YouTube is guilty of massive copyright infringement after finding around 160,000 unauthorised clips of its programmes on YouTube.

  The latest news from the lawsuit is the ruling by a US court that Google must hand Viacom a YouTube viewing log with details of everyone who has ever watched any video on YouTube (so basically everyone on the planet..) The viewing log will contain the log-in ID of millions of users, the computer IP address (online identifier) and video clip details - and will total more than 12 terabytes of data - bad news for everyone out there who may have watched some copyrighted videos (so again, basically everyone on the planet…)

  Viacom say they want the data to “compare the attractiveness of allegedly infringing video with that of non-infringing videos”. But, digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (the EFF) are arguing that the ruling is a “set-back to privacy rights” and is potentially unlawful because the log data will contain personally identifiable data. They are urging Viacom to “back off this overbroad request” want Google to take all steps necessary to challenge this order and protect the rights of its users. I can’t see it happening though, and I think there are going to be some pretty harsh words towards Viacom - and the Judge that ruled the decision.

  The court have also ruled that Google must divulge the details of all videos that have been removed from YouTube for any reason.

  News battle copyright infringement Google lawsuit legal log online programmes the EFF Viacom YouTube

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  by Laura: Wednesday, 2 July 2008

• Heinz pull plug on peck

  After only one week of airtime, Heinz have pulled the plug on their latest TV advert in an apparent move to appease the sensibilities of a vocal homophobic minority. When I first watched the ad I couldn’t quite believe that people could feel so strongly about a short peck on the lips. I was truly expecting tongues and all sorts.

  

  

  The ad, by London-based agency AMV BBDO (now there’s a catchy name), revolves around the central concept that Heinz Deli Mayo tastes so good “it’s as if you have your own New York deli man in your kitchen”. At the end of the ad, as the father prepares to leave the house with his sandwiches, the two men share a brief kiss.

  According to the Guardian, viewers have complained that it is “offensive” and “inappropriate to see two men kissing”. What exactly is inappropriate about this, in an age where same-sex relationships are perfectly accepted and same-sex marriages legal? Other parents complained that the ads would require parents to discuss the issue of same-sex relationships with their children. I can’t see how this can possibly be justified.

  As reported in the Independent, Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall, has urged its supporters to stop buying Heinz products. Whether this will be carried out to the point where it actually harms Heinz remains to be seen.

  I personally don’t feel as angry with Heinz as I do with the idiot viewers who took it upon themselves to complain. As someone in the office pointed out, the Heinz brand is centered around the idea of the family, and a protracted fight over this issue may go against the overall interest of the brand.

  As the debate spreads across the Internet it seems that despite being withdrawn, the ad will find an audience on YouTube and other video sharing sites.

  I think that Sarah Britten, a blogger from the South African newspaper The Times, sums it up well:

  “Heinz showed even less spine than Thabo Mbeki on Zimbabwe.”

  “Never underestimate the wilful stupidity of the viewing public”

  Brands & Marketing Industry news YouTube tv advert Heinz kiss pulled the plug AMV BBDO Deli Mayo gay homophobic are you serious? two men no tongues i kissed a man once and it was great brokeback mountain two salamis in the deli

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  by Dave G: Wednesday, 25 June 2008