Tuesday, April 26, 2011

A Predictable Story, Given High Gas Prices and Earth Day

Some stories are predictable. Gas prices rise 100 percent and we start seeing stories showing gas signs and stories about what people are doing to avoid driving. That's not unusual or unexpected. Stories get written around seasons, important events, weather and news of the day.

So it is that Bob McCandless, CEO of BrightCom, a telepresence and video conferencing manufacturer, argues that "one reason why sales are falling at gas stations in the midst of increasing prices is due to the rate of enterprises becoming aware and adopting telecommuting solutions including telepresence and video conferencing to help minimize executive and employee travel."

Whenever gas prices get this high, we see stories about how telecommuting and related underpinnings of telecommuting are helpful.

Sony Announces “Sony Tablet” with Android 3.0 in 2 Form Factors

“Sony Tablet”  S1 (Left), S2 (Right)The new “Sony Tablet” to be available in the fall of 2011 will feature two form factors, including S1 (codename) which is optimized for rich media entertainment and S2 (codename) which is designed for mobile communication and entertainment.

The “Sony Tablet” will use Android 3.0. The S1 uses a relatively standard a 9.4-inch display. The
S2 has two 5.5-inch displays, in a clam shell configuration that is intended for more-mobile use, as the folding screens will collapse into a smaller overall package.

IP Could Change Conditional Access and Need for Dedicated Decoders

 

OfferedApp Blends Social Shopping with Ad-Supported Apps

The idea of giving consumers something of value in exchange for the right to send or show advertising is not new. In fact, communication service or app providers have periodically experimented with the idea for years. The idea of offering free voice calls in exchange for listening to a few seconds worth of ads has been tried more than once, for example.

More recently, social shopping sites have plumbed a slightly different idea, aggregating groups of potential buyers before triggering an offer. A firm called "OfferedApp" works in both veins, offering users "free" apps that normally sell in app stores, in exchange for the right to show those consumers advertising. It's sort of like Groupon, but with the twist of offering free access to "paid" apps in return for the right to deliver advertising.

http://www.offeredapp.com/

Optimum Link: Stream PC Content to TV, Using the Network

The executives at Cablevision Systems Corp. long have had a reputation within the U.S. cable industry of doing things just a bit differently than most. That also extends to applications and services that allow consumers to display PC-delivered content on their TVs.

"Optimum Link," a new service available to Cablevision subscribers, offers the ability to view online content on the subscriber's TVs for $4.95 a month. The feature is included with the "Optimum Ultra" package.

Optimum Link obviously can be used to view videos, pictures, music and other web content, for example.

"If you have iO TV and Optimum Online you can send images and more from your computer to your TV with Optimum Link," Cablevision says. "Just download the Optimum Link software, follow the simple instructions, and turn to iO TV Channel 641."

This is a "service" version of capabilities consumers can obtain using some gameplaying consoles and dedicated set-top boxes, and is conceptually in line with the "network DVR" concept Cablevision fought so hard to create and offer.

How long does it take for a Facebook post to beoome stale? - Social Marketing - BizReport

After one hour and 20 minutes a post on Facebook will have already attracted 50 percent of its total "Likes" and comments, a study by Visibli has found.

By the seventh hour 80 percent of "Likes" and comments have been left and 22 hours later 95 percent of all activity already has occurred.

In essence, that means that if you want maximum exposure post every one hour and 20 minutes but if you want to reach as many on your social graph as possible, one post a day will suffice.

How long does it take for a Facebook post to beoome stale? - Social Marketing - BizReport

After one hour and 20 minutes a post on Facebook will have already attracted 50 percent of its total "Likes" and comments, a study by Visibli has found.

By the seventh hour 80 percent of "Likes" and comments have been left and 22 hours later 95 percent of all activity already has occurred.

In essence, that means that if you want maximum exposure post every one hour and 20 minutes but if you want to reach as many on your social graph as possible, one post a day will suffice.

Directv-Dish Merger Fails

Directv’’s termination of its deal to merge with EchoStar, apparently because EchoStar bondholders did not approve, means EchoStar continue...