Category: Applications

MUMBAI: KickApps has released a hosted community solution that invites any website to quickly and easily deploy user-generated video and social networking functionality directly on their Web pages.

KickApps says that it provides a highly customised, enterprise-quality platform intended to serve all websites, including major media brands like reality television shows, cable channels, talk shows, magazines, newspapers, and sports teams.

KickApps addresses the needs of webmasters looking to provide their visitors with all the functionality typically found at leading Web 2.0 portals like MySpace, YouTube, Flickr and Facebook. It also provides webmasters with a set of sophisticated media management, reporting and administrative tools designed to protect websites from pornography, copyrighted material and user content that may hurt their brands or offend advertisers.

KickApps founder and CEO Eric Alterman says, “By powering brands with community-building functionality at many diverse websites we are helping those brands aggregate audiences within specific contexts. We believe context is the next major driver for Web 2.0 traffic and for advertisers looking for a safe, effective way to promote their brands to identifiable communities with known demographics.”

KickApps provides webmasters with a suite of technologies that deploy instantly with a cut-and-paste “widget” implementation. Visitors to websites powered by KickApps can upload videos, photos and audio files, create their own personal pages, invite friends, and create instant video blogs. Webmasters are empowered with a sophisticated Affiliate Center environment that allows them to quickly create a highly customized user experience complete with a robust set of media management tools.

Spark Capital co-founder Santo Politi says, “High-traffic media and content websites need competitive user-generated content and social networking functionality. But they also require the kind of administrative tools necessary to protect their brand. KickApps is well ahead of the market in providing webmasters with the features and controls required to deploy an effective community platform.”

KickApps says that it fully embraces the concept of widgets in the form of Flash-based objects that contain video and other media aggregated by affiliate websites. Visitors to websites powered by KickApps can ‘steal‘ these widgets and place them on their own social networking personal pages.

Widgets can contain both user-generated video and premium video uploaded by affiliate webmasters, and all widgets link back to affiliate websites in a highly viral fashion.

Alterman adds, “While KickApps enables the usual features found on most user-generated content websites our widget-based platform is designed to create a far more dynamic and viral media experience. Our affiliates will have thousands of content widgets positioned all over the Internet, all linking back to their websites. Widgets take content syndication to a whole new level.

The company will announce a number of customer deployments over the coming weeks.

MUMBAI: Global mobile media specialist Mobile Streams has acquired the mobile entertainment group Mobilemode.

Founded in 1999, Mobilemode delivers mobile entertainment content and services to mobile phone operators and portals in the Asia Pacific region.

The acquisition of Mobilemode will give Mobile Streams a comprehensive position in Asia Pacific, with a particularly strong focus on Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. In addition, the acquisition will offer Mobile Streams the immediate benefit of Mobilemode’s experienced management team, and their strong relationships with portals and mobile network operators.

Mobilemode’s key network operator customers are SingTel-Optus, Virgin Mobile and Hutchison 3G in Australia, SingTel and M1 in Singapore and Maxis and Astro in Malaysia. Mobilemode also has strong distribution relationships with eBay, Electronic Arts, Nokia and Discovery Networks, an affiliate of Liberty Media, Mobile Streams’ strategic investor.

Mobilemode’s management team has worked in Asia for many years and will be invaluable in supplementing Mobile Streams’ existing business in the region. The two founding members of Mobilemode, its CEO Jarno Salmivuori and and VP business development Norma Salmivuori will assume management positions within Mobile Streams’ Asia Pacific business unit.

For the year to 31 March 2006, Mobilemode recorded turnover of €1.1m and profit before tax of approximately €48,000.

Mobile Streams CEO Simon Buckingham said, “This acquisition represents a key milestone in the development of Mobile Streams’ global footprint. Mobilemode will provide us with an excellent stepping stone into the advanced markets of Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore whilst at the same time providing a platform for growth in the emerging markets of Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines.”

Jarno Salmivuori said, “Mobilemode has established strong relationships and operations in Asia which we look forward to developing and growing further through the combination with Mobile Streams”

MUMBAI: Nielsen//NetRatings, which works in the field of Internet media and market research has announced that 6.6 per cent of America‘s adult online population, or 9.2 million Web users, have recently downloaded an audio podcast.

Four per cent, or 5.6 million Web users, have recently downloaded a video podcast. These figures put the podcasting population on a par with those who publish blogs, 4.8 per cent, and online daters, 3.9 per cent. However, podcasting is not yet nearly as popular as viewing and paying bills online, 51.6 per cent, or online job hunting, 24.6 per cent.

For the uninitiated podcasting is a relatively new technology that enables users to quickly and easily download multimedia files, including audio and video, for playback on mobile devices including iPods and other MP3 players, as well as cell phones.

Nielsen//NetRatings analyst Michael Lanz says, “The portability of podcasts makes them especially appealing to young on-the-go audiences. We can expect to see podcasting become increasingly popular as portable content media players proliferate”.

As is often typical with new technologies, young people are more likely than their older counterparts to engage in audio or video podcasting. Web users between the ages 18 and 24 are nearly twice as likely as the average Web user to download audio podcasts, followed by users in the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups, who were also more likely than the average Web user to do audio podcasting.

Video podcasters showed 25-34 year olds indexing the highest. Web users above the age of 45 were less likely than average to engage in podcasting of either sort. Since the popularity of Apple‘s iPod is largely responsible for the spread of podcasting, not surprisingly podcasters enjoy using Apple products and visiting Apple Web sites. For example, audio and video podcasters are over three times as likely as the average Web user to use Apple‘s Safari as their primary Internet browser.

Among audio podcasters, Macworld is the most-visited content site, with a composition index of 606 (see Table 4). Apple and iTunes are the No. 2 and 3 e-commerce sites visited by audio podcasters, with composition indexes of 455 and 396, respectively. The Apple connection is not as clear for video podcasters, who flock to Startrek.com among content
sites, with an index of 864. Live365.com and eMusic are the two most popular e-commerce sites for video podcasters, with indexes of 730 and 656, respectively.

Lanz adds, “Competitors to the iPod are now in the marketplace, but Apple got a big head start. It will take time before other portable media players make significant in-roads with the early-adopters who are currently podcasting”.

MUMBAI: Siemens Communications has organized a workshop in India titled ‘Open the door to 3G‘ to share the latest trends in the communications industry. The workshop showcased 3G product offerings for network providers, presenting a view on the introduction of 3G in India.

In addition to a demonstration of the technology range of 3G network solutions, the workshop also provided an insight into innovations in delivering effective, controlled and secure communications infrastructure over next generation mobile networks beyond 3G, informs an official release.

Live demonstration of network solutions like HSxPA, Remote Radio Heads, DVB-H, Mobile TV via streaming, SIP-Applications were conducted during the workshop. These advanced network solutions enable carriers to provide and subscribers with a whole package of telecommunications applications.

Siemens Public Communications Networks Ltd MD Michael Kuehner said, “Innovation and continuous buildup of strength in technology are growth drivers in any emerging market. India today is one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world and the opportunities are endless here. The spurt in spending power in the hands of consumers is further fueling demand for advanced technology. Siemens recognizes the challenges of the Indian telecom industry and offers best-suited products, services and cost-effective solutions. With the introduction of advanced network solutions in India, Siemens will support operators to usher in spectrum efficient, feature-rich seamless roaming, broad bandwidth and high-speed communication.”

“The Indian market is at an exciting stage as it is poised for the rollout of 3G. We are providing technology, which enables smooth transition from 2G to 3G providing carriers the flexibility of adapting networks to meet increased voice and data traffic. With advanced technologies, there will be a lot of demand for strong network indoors as video applications would mostly be accessed indoors. Our Mobile Base Stations offer the best indoor connectivity as they can be placed at strategic locations and can be quite small in size,‘ said Utran Product Line Strategy head and director Dr. Dina Bartels.

Siemens Communications claims to be setting benchmarks in quality and delivery thus targeting key growth areas, which include upcoming opportunities in semi-urban and rural markets, providing cutting-edge technology in urban markets and adding additional capabilities to existing infrastructure by continuously innovating its offerings for the Indian market. The company is focusing on enabling customer satisfaction for fast moving and emerging telecom markets like India, adds the release. 

MUMBAI: Hathway Cable & Datacom has launched an interactive gaming service on its digital cable television services.

Launched on 10 July, the gaming feature would initially be available to all Hathway digital subscribers on a free of cost basis.

For the gaming technology, Hathway has selected NDS, a global provider for open end-to-end digital pay TV solutions. Once the digital box is activated, the customer needs has to select the gaming icon on the screen and access the available games such as Lilly Lovers, Stubby the Sock Gnome and Sumo Temple. Many more games will be added in the course of the year, according to an official release.

MUMBAI: Yahoo Inc. is revamping the finance section of its web site with more interactive stock charts and other features. The redesigned web page will be unveiled on 17 July.

The new system design has the static, two-dimensional stock chart where scrolling elsewhere on the page was required for getting additional data or a different timeline view removed. Instead, users can stay on the chart itself to view major events such as splits or dividends or drag the timeline to a desired period.

Users can also type in specific dates to create a chart and compare the performance of multiple equities within the same graph. They can then easily print the customized chart or send it to others via e-mail, states a medial release.

Google Inc., had introduced similar interactive chart features when it launched a finance section in March 2006. But Yahoo‘s new customisation features raise the bar for its major competitors, reports quote said Charlene Li, an Internet analyst at Forrester Research, as saying. “This takes stock charts to another level. And, you don‘t stay the leader if you don‘t innovate, ” Li says.

Yahoo will also be adding an online tool for other online publishers to distribute stock charts, quotes and news headlines from Yahoo Finance – all free of charge. The syndication offering, christened the Yahoo Finance Badge, lets web sites of all sizes display market data that Yahoo already receives and processes from the leading stock exchanges.

MUMBAI: The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) in the US and the Department of Homeland Security‘s Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) have tested the second phase of its Digital Emergency Alert System (DEAS).

This project demonstrates how the Department of Homeland Security can improve and disseminate public alerts and warnings during times of national crisis through the use of local public television‘s digital television broadcasts.

APTS president and CEO John Lawson said, “This project demonstrates how the capabilities of America‘s public broadcasters can be utilised to dramatically enhance the ability of the President of the United States to communicate with the American public during a national crisis.

“The partnership between APTS and the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA is a major step forward in laying the foundation for a new generation alert and warning system. The current EAS has it roots in the Cold War, and still relies on technology from that era. You had to be watching one of the major networks or listening to a radio station to have a chance of receiving the alert.

Fema director David Paulison says, “What we are announcing is an alert system for the mobile, networked, and digital America of the 21st Century. Digital capabilities will improve the reliability, flexibility and security of the emergency alert system.

“This more efficient system will better serve first responders and government officials, as well as provide the American public timely information so they can safeguard themselves and loved ones in times of emergencies.”

APTS demonstrated the capabilities of digital broadcasting through a two- year project in the National Capital Region. The initial phases of this project included PBS, Wetas, 25 other public television stations across the US and the FCC.

APTS and Fema were also joined by partners in the commercial television, cable, cellular, paging and radio industries. SpectraRep, a professional services firm, provides technology and anagement consulting services to the television stations.

Lawson adds, “Public television is dedicated to public service. Our stations and the communities that support them, as well as state legislatures, foundations and the federal government, have raised over one billion for digital conversion. Our stations are using the powerful digital technology to bring new services to those they serve, including HDTV, new standard definition channels and rich media content delivered directly to PC‘s.

“Now we take a major step forward in using this same digital infrastructure to enhance public safety. The public will be safer because of this project. Public service is in the DNA of public television. Digital television is allowing us to roll out a new generation of content and services for the American people. We have always been about enhancing lives. Now we can help save lives as well.”

MUMBAI: Format creator and distributor FremantleMedia and Arts Alliance Media have signed a deal for users to download episodes to their PCs and certain portable devices and view them either on a rental basis or keep them on their hard drives to watch whenever they want.

Fremantlemedia has granted rights to Arts Alliance Media-which provides digital film distribution services in Europe – to make up to 200 hours of classic comedy available to UK broadband internet users. Programming will be sourced from the FremantleMedia and talkbackThames catalogues and will include hit programmes such as Men Behaving Badly, Goodnight Sweetheart and Tommy Cooper.

The content will be available later this year via a dedicated website as well as via Arts Alliance Media‘s download partners which currently includes download and DVD rental site, Lovefilm and AOL, which has over 2.2 million members in the UK, of which more than 1.3 million are broadband members. Additional partners for download distribution will be announced over the coming months.

FremantleMedia Enterprises CEO David Ellender, says, “This deal represents a central part of our new media strategy which involves us engaging with the consumer across a number of new platforms that are being opened up at present. Arts Alliance Media is the leading download company for the studios and has a reputation and track record second to none in this field. We are very excited about establishing a relationship with them as they move into the TV sector.”

Arts Alliance Media president Mark Livingstone, said, “We are pleased to be the first to partner with FremantleMedia in a deal which further establishes Arts Alliance Media’s reputation as the premier content provider for download services. FremantleMedia‘s content of classic TV comedy adds to our extensive library of feature titles which we look forward to rolling out to our existing and future partners.”

MUMBAI: US broadcaster Comedy Central is bulking up its broadband channel MotherLoad with a new serving of programming.

The network‘s new original broadband development slate will boost the line-up to include more than 20 original shows
 
MotherLoad was launched in November 2005. In the past six months, Comedy Central has unveiled an extensive line-up of original programming including animation, live-action narratives, topical stand-up performances and sketch comedies.

This year also marked, the development of the channel‘s first original multi-platform stand-up series Live At Gotham which premiered as a topical stand-up series on MotherLoad and is now debuting on-air on 21 July, making this the first original broadband programme to migrate to the network‘s linear channel.

One show is the 10 episode Balloonheads. This series features the adventures of various characters who have balloons for heads. Baxter & McGuire is an animated buddy-comedy. It chronicles the adventures of Baxter and McGuire, the closest of pals who never leave each other‘s side.

Good God is a sitcom like The Office about God‘s workplace environment. Moonwalk 1986 deals with the adventures of two astronauts on the moon and their banal conversations during missions.