Google enters broadcasting...the revolution has begun and will be televised

Wow!...oft-mooted but never realised...until now. Google has entered the world of broadcasting by securing an agreement to broadcast live Indian Premier League cricket matches via YouTube.

Evidently Google sees this as an ideal 'proof of concept' with minimal risk. It won't step on any toes in Hollywood or the US networks but it will give them a voracious audience in the far east/sub-continent market, hungry to watch the region's most popular and lucrative sporting property by any means necessary. It is certain to be a success and will no doubt lead to Google looking to do more of the same and, more ominously, further afield...

With ESPN in negotiation to bring live streaming to the Xbox 360, this is clearly being seen as 'the future' approach to content distribution and no doubt leaves traditional broadcasters quaking in their shoes as they see their now 'middleware' networks being cut out of the loop. Attacking middleware has long been Google's strategy and tv appears to be next in their rifle sights.

The Ninja is very happy that he bought an excellent LG BD370 blu-ray player with built in YouTube streaming - it might be the only broadcast device under the HD panel soon!

Undercooked - P2P case throws light on this complex issue

The recent acquittal of Alan Ellis, administrator of one-time music sharing site OiNK will have shaken the anti-piracy lobby to the core. Several things have become clear as a result of this lengthy and oft-delayed trial:

 

1) Proof of conspiracy in file-sharing is very, very difficult, throwing the whole legal battle wide open despite the best efforts of the music industry's legal representatives.

2) People will pay for what they want if it is delivered well and in a usable manner (i.e. without DRM).

3) A considerable amount of money can still be made in music sales.

4) The next generation of file sharing is already coming to prominence (VPN).

 

With Ellis reported to have had over £200K in PayPal donation accounts (yet only spent it on server maintenance), this clearly shows that the model of P2P music 'sales' works. The music industry continues to put a 'per song' value on content, in the same vein as previous delivery methods like CD, but that model has long been torpedoed and still they fail to realise that. Surely some value is better than none at all and that it is time for the industry to embrace P2P. The OiNK case shows that there is still money to be made...if you utilise the technology and, more importantly, heed the needs of your customers...

 

The more things change, the more things stay the same...and the spirit of Napster lives on

 

 

 

 

Film of the Year

With the New Year having arrived, the Cyborg Ninja can now reflect on a fabulous year of movies in 2009 and come up with the selection of the coveted 'Ninja film of the year'! Despite the depth of movies on offer, there was one clear winner - the fabulous re-launching of the Star Trek franchise...a movie full of fun, honour, emotion, laughs, 'nudge and wink' tie-ins with previous Treks, space battles, sumptuous visuals and sound - simply perfect, capped by an awesome 3 disc blu-ray release.

 

Previous winners:

 

2009 - Star Trek

 

2008 - Vantage Point (runner up - Eagle Eye)

 

2007 - Shooter & Bourne Ultimatum

 

2006 - Deja Vu (runner up - V for Vendetta)

 

2005 - Transporter 2 (runner up - Stealth)

 

2004 - Bourne Supremacy (runner up - Man on Fire)

 

2003 - The Italian Job

 

2002 - Bourne Identity

 

2001 - Spy Game 

 

2000 - Mission Impossible 2 

 

And if I had to pick a film of the decade...it should probably go to either Supremacy or Ultimatum but the heart says that Vantage Point deserves it....an incredible telling of a gripping story, albeit a far fetched one, but so cleverly told it deserves the recognition!

Google's Gamechanger?

Today sees the launch and unveiling of Google's own phone - the Nexus One, which I previously blogged about and a number of rumours continue to fly about in what is now a hotly anticipated technology launch.

 

Many believe it will simple be an unlocked handset, offered without a contract for about £300+, albeit one with all the bells and whistles Google can pour in to its silicon innards. However, some have suggested it might be offered at an extremely low cost, offering a top-notch, much-craved device for discount prices in an effort to undercut Apple's iPhone and stamp all over Nokia and Windows' mobile variants. Google would then look to recoup the lost revenue via increased mobile advertising as the happy Nexus user merrily surfs through Google ads on their new device, drinking Google's juice.

 

This would mark a massive shift away from the 'subsidised handset cost/large contract or large handset cost/pricey pay-as-you-go' model long utilised by mobile phone operators. Google would change the game in a dramatic way if this rumour turns out to be true and Android would rocket to the top of the mobile charts as a result. It would be bold, telling and highly beneficial for the consumer - so here's hoping it is true!