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01 December 2006, 16:44
YouTube moves to the small screen. Verizon Cell Phone
Verizon Cell PhoneInternet video service provider YouTube announced Nov. 28 that it will be bringing its video entertainment services to Verizon Wireless cell phones starting in early December.
Verizon Wireless customers who have the $15/month VCast service will soon have access to YouTube clips. The service is limited, however. Subscribers won’t be able to watch every YouTube clips - just an unspecified number of clips approved by YouTube and Verizon Wireless. I don’t see this as being an especially tempting offering - it goes against the free spirit attitude of YouTube. (NYT free sub. req.) NOTE: This corrects a previous entry that incorrectly wrote that the YouTube service itself would cost $15/month. It is bundled into the $15/month VCast service.
"We are excited to launch our new mobile service and to partner with Verizon Wireless to bring YouTube videos to a new audience," Steve Chen,  chief technology officer and co-founder of YouTube, said in a company release.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Verizon Wireless and YouTube are in talks to bring the video web site’s content to mobile phones. While no deal has yet been signed, the story indicates that talks are serious and that Verizon Wireless may soon land a limited time exclusive agreement with YouTube. Visitors to the company’s Internet web site watch more than 100 million videos daily on YouTube.
By using the embedded YouTube services on their Verizon mobile phones, users will also be able to record and share videos.
According to the WSJ, YouTube content would be placed in Verizon Wireless’ VCast video service. Customers would be given a choice of from 50 to 100 of the most popular videos to view at any time. Given the amount of commercially posted content currently available on the site, as well as the unsavory nature of some of the user-generated content, it is extremely like that Verizon Wireless would demand some form of filtering before giving its customers access to YouTube content.
Tole Hart, a Gartner Research analyst, told eWEEK that Verizon could benefit from this partnership with YouTube.
One can envision problems with watching user generated content from YouTube on mobile phones. Mobile phone screens are typically less than two inches from corner to corner, have relatively dim screens, and do not boast very high resolution. Video made for mobile typically needs to comply with certain norms. The lighting in the videos needs to be fairly bright. The steadiness of the camera is important. Most shots should be close-ups because it is difficult to see smaller details on the small screen of a mobile. It is fairly likely that most content currently available on YouTube would be unsuitable from a quality standpoint for viewing on a mobile.
Verizon released VCast in February 2005, which at the time included episodes of soap operas and a 1-minute spin-off of Fox's TV show "24."
However, given the buzz that surrounds YouTube and the interest it would immediately draw if it were made available to mobile customers, Verizon Wireless’ talks with YouTube seem like a smart idea. The deal will probably incorporate a service allowing Verizon Wireless customers to post their own cameraphone videos to YouTube as well.
Both Google, the new owners of YouTube, and Verizon are just thrilled to be offering us an anemic version of the popular video sharing Web site. But fear not, non-Verizon Wireless users: YouTube will only remain exclusive to Verizon for a "limited period of time."
"We will continue to roll out more exciting partnerships and features for the mobile users over the coming year as we don't want to be restricted to the desktop," Chen said.
So, who's willing to pay $15 per month for a censored, anemic version of YouTube that you can enjoy on a 1-inch screen?
"This is a trial and the start of more to come," Hart said. "The business model is not completely hashed out for mobile video and will eventually include some types of advertising, and the mobile phone will begin to be on the content creation side as well. I think this is a good match for both companies."
Verizon Wireless consumers can obtain a VCast vPak subscription, which includes unlimited basic video, for $15 monthly access, or $3 daily access, added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/YouTube moves to the small screenA deal between YouTube and US mobile firm Verizon Wireless will see the popular video-sharing website extended to mobile phones.
This news announcement sparks a lot of questions in my mind.
Users who subscribe to Verizon's Vcast service will be able to view content on the YouTube website via their mobiles. The trial, which will begin in December, will also allow users to post video clips from their phones more easily. First off its a little confusing because it says, Users who subscribe to Verizon’s Vcast service will be able to view content on the YouTube website via their mobiles. It is likely that similar tie-ups will follow as mobile operators look for a slice of the social-networking pie. More than 100 million video clips are viewed every day on the YouTube website. and then states this, The new deal will mean that VCast users, who pay $15 a month to watch and download video to their mobile, will have access to a limited number of approved videos from YouTube. The new deal will mean that VCast users, who pay $15 a month to watch and download video to their mobile, will have access to a limited number of approved videos from YouTube. In contrast, the web version of the site allows users to access almost any video for free.
How do you go from saying that the Vcast service will be able to view content on the YouTube website and then say they will have access to a limited number of approved videos? First off, the YouTube.com website is a Flash/FLV based media player and Vcast is a Mpeg4 based service, would be interesting to know how they implemented that one. I assume this might be some of the reason for limited number of approved videos? because converting FLV to other formats right now is not something of a smooth process. But we are talking about going from a larger resolution to a smaller one so even if you are going from a compressed format to another you will be alright. Most YouTube.com movies are compressed alot though so I wonder if they are limiting it to videos they have the source to?
The Verizon tie-up also means users will be able to upload short clips captured on their mobile phones. Previously, posting content from mobile handsets to YouTube required an email address but subscribers to Verizon's wireless media service Vcast will now be able to upload content using a five-digit short code. YouTube, the online video sharing site which was recently bought by Google, had said it hoped to expand its service beyond computers.
Well like I said this new article sparked more questions then answers. It was nice to see that they hooked up a 5-digit code to send videos to for uploading videos. This should make the expansion of social-video-networking go up quite a bit. It would be really cool, this is way out there, to have this fuel Verizon’s relationship with Adobe and push the Vcast system to use FLV (and Flash Lite 2.X/3.0???) instead of or in addition to the Mpeg4 based service of right now. Anything that pushes Flash forward on the mobile device arena is cool.
The deal with Verizon is part of a limited trial for the fashionable site on the small screen. The popularity of social networking sites such as YouTube and MySpace are increasingly attracting the eyes of mobile phone operators, desperate to increase revenues as the price of making calls continues to fall. "The user-generated content space is a very important sector in media," said Robin Chan, marketing director at Verizon Wireless. UK mobile phone operators have yet to enter such a tie-up although they do offer their own networking sites. O2 has launched LookAtMe which allows users to download video clips posted by other users and 3's Kink Kommunity sees thousands of postings each day.
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30 November 2006, 14:11
Lockheed Martin wins contract to develop high altitude airship for missile defense, other missions.
High Altitude Airship (HAA)
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a contract for approximately $10 million to further develop advanced material technology and next-generation hull material for stratospheric airships under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Integrated Sensor Is Structure (ISIS) program.
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, is developing a High Altitude Airship under a technology demonstration program funded the US Missile defense Agency. The unmanned, untethered solar powered prototype airship with be able to remain on station for 30 days at a cruise altitude of 60,000 feet. With a minimum payload capacity of 500 pounds and on-board supply of 3 kW of power the airship will be able to carry a missile detection and warning equipment augmenting current ground- and space-based capabilities. The current program cost is estimated at US $149 million with completion expected by November 2010. Lockheed Martin is already developing a larger prototype airship expected to carry 4,000 pound payloads and 10 KW power.
“The Lockheed Martin team was chosen to develop this innovative material based on the strength of its scientific and manufacturing expertise,” said DARPA program manager Tim Clark. “Once successfully demonstrated, the DARPA material will dramatically reduce the weight and size of airships while improving operational longevity and payload capacity.”
The High Altitude Airship (HAA) is developed under advanced technology concept demonstration (ACTD) $40 million design and risk reduction program. This prototype is expected to be completed in 2006. Once successfuly demonstrated in flight testing, the HAA is expected to provide a test bed for the Ballistic Missile defense Agency. The HAA will be about 500 feet long, 160 feet in diameter and have a volume of 5.2 million cubic feet.
The target HAA will be even larger. According to Lockheed Martin, the unmanned HAA 'blimp' is designed to operate for extended durations at an altitude of 65,000 feet, well above the flying altitude of aircraft or air defense missiles. The blimp's sensors will cover a ground and airspace footprint of at least 700 miles in diameter and more than 4 million cubic miles of airspace. HAA will be capable of lifting various mission-specific payloads, including radar, communications and passive electronic and imaging (EO/IR) sensors. Unlike satellites, HAA will be able to return to its base for resupply and refitting with different payloads, to accommodate evolving mission requirements. Using helium for lift and four electric-powered propulsion systems for directional flight and control, the HAA would maintain a quasi-geostationary position and have capacity to relocate. The ground-based command and control system will communicate with the airship via line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight methods. Its vehicle management system will use autonomous, manual and remote-piloted modes, and will monitor vehicle health, perform systems diagnostics, control the system's operating environment at the equipment bays, and evaluate the hull structure.
“With Lockheed Martin’s substantial investment and legacy in airship materials development, we have already begun the process of creating a unique, highly-engineered, flexible composite hull material,” said David Filicky, Lockheed Martin’s ISIS advanced materials program manager. “This fabric requires significant materials development and large-scale, low –anomaly manufacturing process advancements over current state-of-the-art airship hull material. This contract allows us to advance our innovative fabrication process while addressing the ISIS flight environment requirements.”
A leader in airship and aerostat development, fabrication, systems integration and operations, Lockheed Martin has developed more than 300 airships and thousands of aerostats. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the Missile Defense Agency’s High Altitude Airship, a stratospheric airship prototype, which will provide persistent surveillance along with other critical capabilities. The company also has provided tethered aerostat surveillance systems to both the U.S. Army for deployment in Iraq and to the U.S. Air Force to support air sovereignty and counter-drug operations along the southern U.S. border.
Some of the systems described include: Lockheed Martin’s Tethered Aerostat Radar, a helium-filled airship. Twice the size of the Goodyear Blimp, the airship is attached to the ground by a cable and can hover overhead, automatically monitoring any movement on the ground. These systems, which are being used to broadcast TV Marti to Cuba and to detect insurgents in Iraq, will have one significant weakness in the vast windswept desert areas along the border -- they cannot operate in high winds. This could be yet another government windfall for Lockheed Martin, which received $19.4 billion in Department of Defense contracts last year alone.
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29 November 2006, 13:07
2006 Top 10 List of Strangest and Funniest Data Disasters. Data Recovery Service
Data Recovery Service
1. Sock it to Me – Although the circumstances of the original data loss were unremarkable, the problem was intensified when the customer shipped his drive to Ontrack in a pair of dirty socks. The old socks didn’t provide the necessary protection during shipping and the resulting damage made the recovery more challenging than normal. Next time, he’ll stick with bubble wrap, but in the meantime, Ontrack successfully recovered his data too.
Ontrack Data Recovery, the well-known provider of data recovery products and services, has unveiled its annual Top Ten list of remarkable data loss disasters in 2006. Taken from a global poll of Ontrack data recovery experts, this years list of data disasters is even more incredible when you consider that in every case cited, the data was actually recovered.
2. Squeaky Drive Gets the Grease – A university professor heard a squeaking noise from the drive of his new desktop computer. To solve the annoying problem, he opened the case and sprayed the inside of the drive with WD-40. Although successful in stopping the drive from squeaking, his actions also prevented the drive from booting up. Ontrack got the drive working again and recovered his data.
3. Finding Nemo – A customer returned from the vacation of a lifetime in Barbados to discover that he couldn’t access any of the snorkeling photos he took on his new “waterproof” digital camera. It seems the camera wasn’t as waterproof as advertised, so Ontrack had to rescue all of his prized tropical fish photos.
Ontrack Data Recovery, the largest, most experienced and most technologically advanced provider of data recovery products and services in the world, has unveiled its annual Top Ten list of remarkable data loss disasters in 2006. Taken from a global poll of Ontrack data recovery experts, this year’s list of data disasters is even more incredible when you consider that in every case cited, Ontrack successfully recovered the data.
5. Hard Drive Speed Bump – It happens every year, but people continue to leave computers and hard drives in the path of moving vehicles. This year alone, Ontrack recovered from a laptop that was run over by a “people mover” at the airport, and several external hard drives stuffed in a backpack that was backed over by a truck.
“This list demonstrates that data loss can happen in a number of different ways, whether the cause is a simple accident or the result of extreme user error,” said Jim Reinert, senior director of Software and Services for Ontrack Data Recovery Service. “No matter how catastrophic the situation may seem, it pays to have your hard drive or storage device evaluated by a professional service like Ontrack because chances are good that we’ll be successful in recovering critical data regardless of how it was lost in the first place.”
7. Rescuing the Research – A leading UK research university suffered a catastrophic data loss after a fire broke out in the computer science department on a weekend morning, damaging computer equipment with smoke and water from the fire department’s efforts. Ontrack was called onsite to rescue thirty computers and recovered more than a terabyte of data.
8. Not a Jolly Occasion – British comedian Dom Joly, presenter and co-creator of Trigger Happy TV, dropped his laptop, damaging a hard drive that held five thousand photos, six thousand songs, half a book he was writing and all of his old newspaper columns. Having read the tragic story in a newspaper column written by Mr. Joly, Ontrack contacted him and was able to recover everything.
9. Wash the Data Away – On a flight from London to Warsaw, a passenger packed his laptop and toiletries in the same bag. Unfortunately, his shampoo leaked and flooded everything in the bag, including the laptop, causing the hard drive to fail. In order to recover all of the data, Ontrack engineers had to do some washing of their own – cleaning the hard drive and other components in order to get the drive functioning.
10. Helicopter Hi-jinks – Employees of a global telecommunications company dropped a laptop computer while working from a helicopter in Monaco. Ontrack successfully retrieved vital files on the laptop and sent them through an FTP server for a meeting in Hong Kong the very next day.
“Data can be recovered from computers, servers and even memory cards used in digital devices by either working on the computers or media/storage devices in our labs and cleanrooms, or by using our patented Remote Data Recovery technology,” added Bridge. “However, individuals and companies can avoid the hassle and stress this can cause by backing up data on a regular basis and establishing a relationship with a professional data recovery service company before disaster strikes.”
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Related Entries: 2005 Top 10 List of Strangest and Funniest Data Disasters. Data Recovery Service
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