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Interesting Uses Of Twitter

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twitter.jpgSmart Mobs has a collection of recent posts reflecting upon Twitter: Global distribution of Twitter users, Twittering churches, and Who really benefits from broadcasting via Twitter?.

The most tweets are apparently coming from Tokyo, then New York and San Francisco. This is based on the first 300,000 tweets collected by Twitterment via the Twitter public timeline API. Other countries that have a top ten city are Canada, Singapore, and Spain.

Twitter has many alternate uses, and has the potential to become an extremely valuable messaging service, but it’s lacking in social networking features. One proposed use of Twitter is to send out short prayers or nice thoughts. The congregation could subscribe by SMS text messaging on their cell phones.

While this could be an interesting idea and would no doubt draw subscribers to the feed, doubling or tripling the 140 character limit would make a difference. I think 140 characters is too restrictive, even with the conversion of long URLs to tinyURL forms. Maybe even have the ability to include a graphic – though of course that may lie danger.

If someone does put together a Prayer Twitter feed, I can’t help thinking that there might be a nice tie in to GodTube or a similar service. No reason there can’t be a multi-faith Twitter-like service, except maybe religious politics.

Originally posted on April 18, 2007 @ 11:57 am

New Media Wire – Wed Apr 18, 2007

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New Graphic AdSense Ads?
While doing my usually daily quick-check of my own websites this morning, I came across a 200×200 animated handbag ad (on my 2 yr old tech site, of all places). This is a Google AdSense ad, but it sure looks an awful lot like a Doubleclick ad. And why a handbag ad, considering pretty much every other AdSense ad on my site has been very targeted to the content?

Note: A quick browse of 901am shows the ads here, too, though not necessarily animated, and still not targeted.

SNL Funnyman Will Ferrell Launches Video Sharing Site
Will Ferrell, arguably the most talented SNLer ever (I’ve been watching since 1976) has teamed up with biz partner and comedian Adam McKay to launch a video-sharing site, FunnyorDie.com. VC firm Sequoia Capital, whose name I see all over the web, has funded this start up. [via Ars Technica]

The main page starts off with the following message in bright red:

Too many people are blowing off work to download our videos. If videos are slow or missing your boss wants you to go back to work and try later. – The Landlord

A Tax Upon You
It’s been a long time coming, but a number of US senators and others want retailers to be taxed for any online sales. That means they want those businesses to hand over data of any purchases. Some online retailers do not have to charge tax on the shipment of products to customers living in certain states.

This is going to be a dog’s breakfast of legislation. As I understand it, US states have the jurisdiction to decide whether or not brick-and-mortar businesses should charge tax to out-of-state customers. Can you imagine what’s going to happen to competing online businesses based in different states, with different sales tax percentages?

Originally posted on April 18, 2007 @ 11:12 am

Magazines Going Subscription Only

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It’s been a long time since I visited my local Chapters bookstore. Chapters is the Canadian equivalent of large bookstore chains like Barnes and Noble. It seems that every time I go there, about every 3-6 months, there are fewer books in the sections I care about and more and candles, knick knacks and chocolate bars for sale. There are less staff. And it’s very likely that the Internet is having an impact on not just newspapers and magazines but on bookstores as well.

When I was there yesterday, at least 10 magazines that used to be displayed prominently on the racks for many years in that very store are now nowhere to be seen. I asked the cashier about two particular magazines, and after checking her printout, she said that they didn’t carry them. I asked about that, pointing out that they used to. Her answer was, “many magazines are going subscription only.”

I actually find this a surprising turn of events. As a former print publisher of a tiny fringe rag, I know how hard it is to make a magazine work. Subscription revenues have never paid the bills – only the ads have, if then. But if a magazine goes subs only, that reduces readership. Which means fewer advertisers and eventually bankruptcy. Unless, of course, a magazine has a successful online presence and the print edition becomes a loss leader.

The two magazines I was looking for are both British and have to do with digital music composition and creation. I was looking for them to revive my own composing bent, to add background music for my new tutorial series at Tubetorial. For years, these two magazines have each included a free CD with their monthly glossy pages. The CD contains audio samples, and demo and free audio software. Sometimes they have short videos as well. In their case, what better medium to switch to than the Internet? It’s ideal for the content that they are really trying to give their readers – and probably cheaper besides. With magazines such as this, print just cannot compete with the Internet.

Originally posted on April 17, 2007 @ 11:47 am

Google Office Anyone?

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snap-google.pngAnyone still think Microsoft shouldn’t be shaking in their boots yet? Google recently snatched up Doubeclick for advertising, but Doubleclick owns Performics, a very large SEO company. Considering Google has their gunsights set against any SEO practices, even “whitehat” techniques, it seems Performics could become the “unwanted relative” of the group. I’m only speculating, but Google might just feel uncomfortable owning Performics, given their perceived anti-SEO stance.

Their purchase of Doubleclick is of course a coup against Microsoft (and Yahoo). And now, they’ve just introduced their own web-based presentation tool, thanks to the purchase of Tonic Systems. It’s very much the same as Microsoft Powerpoint. What’s left? Google Money?

Google does have a suite of great tools. I use at least 2-5 of them daily. But it seems to me that Google is on the same type of acquisition trend that IBM went on in the 1980s, and Microsoft in the 1990s. If Google competitors haven’t started complaining about anti-competitive practices, they will be soon.

The difference is, how do you regulate the Internet, and who should do it? And the bigger question: since history would suggest it, what company will replace Google in the next decade, go on an acquisition trail, peeve every one off, and be replaced in the following decade? Does the company even exist yet, or will we see their appearance in 2008-9?

Originally posted on April 18, 2007 @ 12:25 pm

New Media Wire – Tues Apr 17, 2007

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Learn Animation, Be A Better Print Cartoonist?
Walt Handelsman of Newsday yesterday won a Pulitizer – his second – for editorial cartooning. To this he attributes his hundreds of hours of effort working on self-taught political animation, which he says helped him get the Pulitzer.

Tom Delay Blogs?
Does anyone care? America Blog says that this “leader of the Republican far-right” blogs at Townhall, a conservative website (no link given). This is the indicted former Republican House leader who recently called some female college basketball players “nappy-headed hos”. Sheesh. I guess they’ll let anyone blog. Maybe Delay can team up with Republican/ ultra-conservative cheerleader Ann Coulter and they can create their own audio hatecasts. Don Imus can be the comedic relief.

Jalipo: Pay-Per-View-Tube
Got video content of professional quality that you’d like to sell views to? Want to see professional content and you’re willing to pay for it? Jalipo [via Download Squad] might be for you.

The interface seems slick, and the content includes professionally produced videos. There’s also high-profile TV content from BBC World, Bloomberg Television, and others from various countries. While some content is free to watch, others require varying numbers of Jalipo credits, which are paid for by the minute. The more credits you shell out, the more of the content you get to watch. In other words, a sort of pay-per-view-tube. You can sign up free, and you’ll get 100 free Jalipo credits.

Originally posted on April 17, 2007 @ 10:49 am