Avatar Expression

I am still chewing over some comments on metrics and while I think it over I decided to take a quick look at avatars and expression. A question was asked in a forum along the lines of whether Second Life is a good medium or not for education?

I believe that yes for raw creativity, accessability, presence and simulation it is a great medium, but as learning relies heavily on communication it is hampered because much of human communication is non-verbal, we are hitting a hurdle and most do not realize it.

Someone asked if “non-verbal” communication would dissappear?

No. We will find work arounds for now. We have been for years.

IM and Micro Chunking

For example with Instant Messaging (IM) language has become compressed and we use emoticons to express emotion. Micro-chunked formats like Jaiku, Twitter, or Pownce also incite compression because in many instances Web to SMS services limit characters to 140 or so.This also exerts a force on how we express thought and use language. We adapt our messages and form “work arounds”. It is so common as to permeate popular cell phone commercials.

I have even played Uni-code characters in Twitter and thought how that might be used like a pseudo-cuneiform script. Cuneiform is one of the earliest known forms of written expression. Created by the Sumerians from ca. 3000 BC it started as as a system of pictographs. The pictorial representations faded and became simplified and more abstract.

Cultural Illiteracy

The same holds true in the work place and in different cultures. In other cultures there are numerous non-verbal cues as an American I never pick up on, because I do not know the language. Either we misunderstand or we adapt and find workarounds.

Online Board or Strategy Games

Even online card games or chess game strategies force us to relearn or change tactics. Even in logic games like chess opponents can “read” critical non-verbal feedback. A furrowed brow over moving a rook, or a smirk as a knight forks a king with check and limbs a queen. If chess is subject to this, it is no surprise that poker or blackjack or card games which use “tells” or non-verbal cues are really affected. I don’t know if anyone has monitored say “cursor” or “mouse behavior” or even eye tracking, but I think we send these signals because we are conditioned too.

The Misleading Avatar

Avatars, and there are many forms, can be extremely misleading. Even in expressive worlds like Second Life where customization is paramount. The Avatar may look healthy and fine, but the person or personality driving it might actually feel sick or have a disablity or send signals we cannot read because they do not translate.

I came to realize this when I realized how difficult it was for an avatar to express grief or another to provide solace to that Avatar and this has happened twice.

As a society we have not really “scripted” for that yet…we have scripted for lots of other stuff though…hugs, kisses, and other “behavior”, but a wide range of emotions or expressions are missing. Perhaps they are still too “synthetic” so we have to rely on overt behaviors and interpret them.

Somehow I think we will get there, or get closer, as 3D worlds become more integral to our lives because non-verbal communication is critical to everything we do. We cannot afford to “work-around” too much.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Share This

Did you experience the recent Skype glitch? Interesting how it happened…because of a routine Windows patch there were a high number of restarts which affected Skype’s network resources. This caused a flood of log-in requests, combined with other factors caused a chain reaction that had a serious impact on the Skype Service. Ultimately Skype took the blame for the outage…

By MATT MOORE
AP Business Writer
Technology Video
Buy AP Photo Reprints

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A two-day outage that left millions of Skype users unable to use the popular Internet phone service was caused by an abnormally high number of restarts after people had downloaded a Windows security update, the company said Monday.

The worldwide outage, which began on Thursday and ended on Saturday, left millions of Skype users unable to log on to make phone calls or send instant messages.

Luxembourg-based Skype Ltd., part of online auction giant eBay Inc., has more than 220 million users in total but typically has 5 million to 6 million users online at any given time. In January, Skype reported that it had counted 9 million users online at one time.

In an update to users on Skype’s Heartbeat blog, employee Villu Arak said the disruption was not because of hackers or any other malicious activity.

Instead, he said that the disruption “was triggered by a massive restart of our users’ computers across the globe within a very short timeframe as they re-booted after receiving a routine set of patches through Windows Update,” Arak wrote.

Read more on the glitch…

Skype skype disruption skype glitch skype outtage software voip VoIP Fanatics web2.0 windows patches

Popularity: 5% [?]

Share This

IM+ for Skype - beta version is now on the market. Produced by SHAPE- SHAPE works directly to produce some of the hottest aggregation applications for mobile users. SHAPE is a Nokia Developer Partner and Blackberry ISV Alliance Partner. Among SHAPE’s partners include SonyEricsson and Motorola Asia, T-Mobile and Orange. If you are new to VoIP- VoIP, in a nutshell, uses your dial-up or broadband connection to make free calls over the internet. The acronym VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and is the technology for transmitting voice conversations via the internet. Thus Skype is a VoIP application, and a tough one for Enterprises because it sports encryption, it is port agile and a number of other tricky technical aspects…It is my application of choice- period.

IM+ for Skype is a web service that enables voice and text communication with other Skype users and provides cost-effective calling to landlines and mobiles.
The application is designed especially for iPhone’s touch screen and complements the design and interface of iPhone, which if you use it, you know how easy it is to use.

Features:

Call Skype users to their PCs.

With IM+ for Skype you can talk with other Skype users all over the world and see who is online and chat with Skype users

With IM+ for Skype it is possible to have chat conversations with other users who are logged in with their Skype accounts on PC. Text messaging is also a cost effective way to say something to your contacts instead of sending an SMS if you are not on an unlimited plan. By looking who is online, and sending a text message you can also check whether the contact is ready for a call.

IM+ for Skype is based on SkypeOut service that allows users to make and receive calls for a low fee. You can Make cost-effective calls to any destination and have Network Independence as the service works worldwide in any 3G⁄GSM⁄CDMA network and doesn’t require WiFi.

Truly and completely mobile software. It does not even require the PC with Skype running. IM+ for Skype enables users to call regardless of where they are.

I tested it and found the interface and built-in help making it a breeze. You get a 7-day free trial and Helen, at SHAPE, informs me they are a Skype certified application.

There is a small one time fee, with all updates included so no monthly subscriptions. Free technical support via e-mail 7 days a week.

SkypeOut-

To some of the most popular destinations, Skype has one unified rate, which they call the SkypeOut Global Rate: (Check latest prices at US Store)

Argentina (Buenos Aires), Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Canada (mobiles), Chile, China (Beijing, Guanzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen), China (mobiles), Czech Republic, Czech Republic - Prague, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong (mobiles), Hungary, Hungary - Budapest, Ireland, Israel, Israel - Jerusalem, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Mexico (Mexico City, Monterrey), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland (Poland, Gdansk, Warsaw), Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg), Singapore, Singapore (mobiles), South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (Taipei), United Kingdom, United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) and United States
(mobiles).

SHAPE and other IM Protocols for those who don’t do the IPhone

While researching this application I came across their All public IM systems in one client:IM+ All-in-One Messenger: MSN/Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo!, AIM/ iChat, ICQ, Jabber and Google Talk for Pocket PC, a Blackberry version (a little more expensive) and one for Windows Smartphones. Yikes!

- BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm, Brew, J2ME.
- Simultaneous chat with contacts from different systems.
- Lifetime License, all upgrades included.

They have special versions of IM+ available for different mobile platforms. The mobile platforms are in the list below. I will check it out and review later.

* Windows Mobile Pocket PC
* Windows Mobile Smartphone
* BlackBerry
* Symbian S60 (v.1, v.2, v.2 FP3, v.3)
* Symbian Series 80
* Symbian Series 90
* Symbian UIQ (SE M600, W950, P990,
SE P910, P900, SE P800,
Motorola A920, Motorola A925/A1000,
BenQ P30, Arima U300)
* Palm OS
* Java phones
* i-mode
* Nokia 9210, Nokia 9290

No free trial, but looking at the awards it has taken- it seems to do the job- Still I will see about some testing, but if you are a power user on the go…

Pocket PC

IM+ All-in-One Messenger: MSN/Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo!, AIM/ iChat, ICQ, Jabber and Google Talk for Pocket PC

BlackBerry

IM+ AIM/iChat, MSN/Live Messenger, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, Google Talk and MySpace for BlackBerry

Windows Smartphones

IM+ AIM/iChat, MSN/Live Messenger, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber and Google Talk for Windows Smartphones

iPhone mobile Skype VoIP Fanatics web2.0

Popularity: 7% [?]

Share This

We kick off this story with Robert Scoble wanting to play Scrabulous inside of Facebook. Cool- I am up for it and figure since I am on vacation- gaming would be good. Let us note his blog entries…

Off we Go: (in FACEBOOK) Wayne is playing Scrabulous with Robert. 11:16pm

GAME ACTION

Wayne Porter opens up with TARP for 12
Robert Scoble responds with plural ROOFS for 10.
Wayne Porter responds with ORDAIN for 9
Robert Scoble responds with TELL for 4

Now making the match 21-14.

Wayne Porter gets aggressive and plays TILLED for 14 and Robert….well

THE GAME GETS BETTER

Read these “micro-chunks” and “cross terrain” diversions…This is what happens when a Media Navigator/Security Researcher and a Mega-Blogger & Media Evangelist armed with video (and neither have ever met) try to play a new game…inside of a social platform. Bicameralism in popular culture? Think Neal Stephenson and first several books (The Big U, Zodiac, Snow Crash) tackle the bicameral mind theory…Snow Crash again…

WAYNE PORTER- TWEETS

These are my responses as I interact with Robert while his attention is split in a number of ways…and I attempt to get it using the Skype connector. The timeline is hard to follow because frankly- I am worn out.

Get the whole stream here via RSS or select from here.

LOL Scoble is twittering during our first Facebook Scrabulous game. Media junkie! about 2 hours ago from web

Just changed his Skype topic to http://twitter.com/wporter/… about 2 hours ago from web 4 minutes ago from Facebook in reply to Scobleizer.

Skype topic with Robert is now http://www.pownce.com/Corwi… (which throws this out of whack again) about 1 hour ago from web

@Scobleizer LOL- took a Skweet (hybrid Skype-Tweet) to catch you- I implore your wife to get you a “hyper-media intervention specialist”. about 2 hours ago from web in reply to Scobleizer

With Others Previous What am I thinking? I need to invent something that streams RSS into a P2PTV client that functions with an I.V. line and G-Tube. (This … … about 1 hour ago from Facebook)

@Scobleizer SMS from here on out…I know our game is on hold, but I have this written up and it needs to cross some more terrain.

4:03am FOR GOOD MEASURE

Wayne sent a free gift to Robert Scoble. Inside of Facebook- a JPG of a Turtle with the note-

“Thank God it isn’t Chess” and the E-mail option off. He will never see that…micro-chunkers hate e-mail.

So we are a few moves into the game…and

ROBERT NOT ONLY TWITTERING- BUT PRODUCING: SAMPLE

Robert created a new kyte show. 4:06am

Robert wrote a new WordPress blog post. 3:59am

Robert Scoble wrote Amazon rolls out Flexible Payment Service at Scobleizer.

Robert wrote a new WordPress blog post. 3:19am

Robert Scoble wrote What the hell is up with our kids today? at Scobleizer.

Robert updated Twitter. 3:18am

Inspirational 14-year-old geek: http://tinyurl.com/2g875x — what is happening to our youth today?

Robert posted a video. 2:45am

At the same time twittering during all of this production and it took a Tweet into a Skype Chat Title to “get attention”

ROBERT’S TWITTER TIMELINE

(note in reverse order- last is first)

i just put up my face talking about Amazon http://tinyurl.com/ywuzg5 25 minutes ago from twitterrific

I love Kyte.tv 26 minutes ago from twitterrific

@balaji_dutt: I hate direct messages. Everything I do I like doing in public. That way nothing is ever hidden from you. 30 minutes ago from twitterrific in reply to balaji_dutt

@JeffBarr: OK, let’s do something when I am up in Seattle for Gnomedex. I’ll be there the two days after Gnomedex and my schedule is open. 38 minutes ago from twitterrific in reply to jeffbarr

@ChrisSaad: everyone knows my number. I’m just trying to keep the line open. 40 minutes ago from twitterrific in reply to ChrisSaad

@JeffBarr: only if you can find them in the next few minutes. I want you. 41 minutes ago from twitterrific in reply to jeffbarr

(That’s for Jeff Barr only please). 42 minutes ago from twitterrific

Wanna call me at 425-205-1921 right now? 43 minutes ago from twitterrific

Jeff, can we do a voice interview? 43 minutes ago from twitterrific

@JeffBarr is going to own TechMeme because this is brilliant to tease us and keep us waiting for his post. 44 minutes ago from twitterrific in reply to jeffbarr

@ccmehil: hold that thought until next week. I’d love to find a way to get him a MacBook. about 1 hour ago from twitterrific in reply to ccmehil

@ratherfancy: when i was 14 I was playing with computers, but not seriously. I think I was watching too much Star Wars. about 1 hour ago from twitterrific in reply to ratherfancy

I forgot about Susan Wojcicki. her garage is where Google started. http://tinyurl.com/n2mpl about 1 hour ago from twitterrific

@ChrisVanPatten: yeah, it’s just fun when you meet someone who is so put together at 14. I’d love to meet you too. about 1 hour ago from twitterrific

@ravbaker: this kid is just amazing. I don’t know where kids like this come from. about 1 hour ago from twitterrific in reply to ravbaker

Inspirational 14-year-old geek: http://tinyurl.com/2g875x — what is happening to our youth today? about 1 hour ago from twitterrific

@wporter: it’s even worse than that. Im watching the Simpsons, reading feeds, AND playing you at Scrabulous! about 2 hours ago from twitterrific in reply to wporter

@jabancroft: yeah, if Jeff Barr tells us his Amazon secrets it’ll only be between the three of us! Heheheh. about 2 hours ago from twitterrific in reply to jabancroft

@JeffBarr has us all hot and bothered over some rumbling from Amazon. OK, Jeff, spill the beans! about 3 hours ago from

Robert- behind on the game or the schedule? (Wayne notes next time challenge Robert to Tic-Tac-Toe…less attention needed)

SKYPE DIRECT CONNECT

Now recall I am changing Skype topics (WE HAD IT OPEN WHOLE TIME) from time to time…our attention to the game in an ephemeral fashion, while both working on things. I am on east coast- he is on west. His first response to lack of movement is when I post a Twitter URL into the Topic of Skype.

For the sake of learning something, or maybe a chuckle…I’ll post a snip or so, I think he will understand. Not like it would stop me anyway- that whole Monkey Phone Call thing and all…water under the bridge. Note times.

[12:25:47 AM] Wayne Porter says: you alive on scrabble or is this a multi-day game?

[12:45:47 AM] Robert Scoble says: I just got back.

[12:45:53 AM] Robert Scoble says: So, will join in shortly.

[12:46:07 AM] Wayne Porter says: k- i’ll debate harrelson on social labeling in interim

[1:32:23 AM] Wayne Porter says: are you multi-tasking?

[1:42:49 AM] Wayne Porter has changed the chat topic to “Spell Feldman for $10 donation to app makers”

[2:20:05 AM] Wayne Porter has changed the chat topic to “http://twitter.com/wporter/statuses/183941132”

[2:29:49 AM] Wayne Porter has changed the chat topic to “Tragic http://twitter.com/wporter/statuses/183951402”

[2:41:26 AM] Wayne Porter has changed the chat topic to “Can’t help himself http://www.pownce.com/CorwinCorp/notes/415772/forward/”

[3:10:20 AM] Robert Scoble says: heh, yeah. I’m way behind, though.

[3:10:50 AM] Wayne Porter says: i was almost sending you an SMS

WAYNE WAS BUSY TOO

A smattering…again in reverse order- latest first where my attention was.

Wayne sent a free gift to Robert Scoble. 4:03am ( A Turtle with message saying “Thank God This Isn’t a Chess Game.)

Wayne updated Twitter. 11:59pm
@samharrelson olds on Sokal was weak, let’s say check and I offer up Noam Chomsky…

Wayne updated Twitter. 11:48pm
@chrispirillo Never did- until the iPhone…now I do.

Wayne updated Twitter. 11:43

@Scobleizer Java Locked on IE- I am good to go with Firefox…will trace Java app next time…your move. Sam jump in…u can put PHD to use

During this span I was talking to my son, debating Sam on post-modernism at CostPerNews.com, syncing up podcasts with the new iPhone (yes- it is changing how I take in media), making my Facebook post-modern joke about Crowley to riposte at Sam over his slap at my Sokal inspired attack on post-modernism, twittering and reading up on educational labeling and implications for marketing. (Sam I think you are a genius, but you are wrong- I’ll gather more research.)

Labeling Theory Tested: Pygmalion in the Classroom
Rosenthal, R., and Jacobson, L. (1968). Pygmalion in the Classroom. New York: Rinehart and Winston.

“they then selected 20 percent of the students at random - without any regard to their intelligence test results - and told the teachers that these students could be expected to “bloom” or “spurt” in their academics that year. At the end of the year, they came back and re-tested all the students.”

….

Labeling matters, and the younger the person getting the label is, the more it matters

I know it is from 1968- is that still contemporary?

To close… I am about to fire off an SMS- hell yes I am, but there is movement in Facebook- crafty Scoble…at around 5:33 am I check in game…

Robert has moved in with a play of RETELL for 6 bringing him to 20….

I’m holding all kinds of weird letters, but have had time to think while I was writing this post, fortunately I had a BLANK tile, and the good fortune of having a grand-father-in-law who invented automated biochemistry. I recalled “OXYACID” from a happy hour talk being any acid that contains oxygen (we were discussing zinc air fuel cells and/or something about renin-angio tension cycle and hypertension I think).

I recalled common ones include sulfuric acid- H2+SO4 or phosphoric acid H3PO4 + H2O or Nitric Acid H+N+O3. Yes a bit archaic, but so was the chemist. Good for 27 points.

Porter: 62
Scoble: 20

At 5:54 Eastern I write in-game “I can’t believe I or you are still at this and I am documenting it…we have lost it.”

. At least I have, and really not lost it- I have found “it”. Fast, efficient, compressed communication.

Because while Robert Tweets, as do birds outside my window- and they are twittering like many people are- this game isn’t over yet…57 Tiles left. I still have to go in Second Life- so Robert- I hope you are not awake. If you move- Twitter me- I’ll have on my SLTweets HUD which is terrain agnostic- no matter how alien SL is- the message can travel.

In the end I am going to just blame Evan Williams founder of Obvious…although I am sorry to hear about Sarah’s tooth Ev. (See personal nature of Twitter)

Thanks for all this fun as Sam documents Robert’s video on Twitter HQ.

This stuff isn’t hard to understand because the concept is simple, although it maybe a bit hard on the people out exploring, stretching and flying around the fast growth and implications of the movement. It might also be hard to swallow for those who have a vested interest in the top-down structure.

This “micromedia” is here to stay…not all companies will survive but the die is cast and that alphabetical caste system is not as important.

Your move Robert…take your time. The media is your choice of course, and where and when you choose to focus your attention is yours as is mine. The brief feeling of overload goes away once people have earned the attention- and anyone can earn today.

The Twitter Machine:: Reflections on Language

Blogging facebook Gaming microblogging microchunking mobile Net Lifestyle Pownce Recreation Satire Second Life Skype Social Networks twitter wayne porter web2.0

Popularity: 10% [?]

Share This

I have examined an article that will probably make some people at Zango queasy. Colleague Ben Edelman (assistant professor at the Harvard Business School in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets unit) dissected some recent Zango installations — then cross-checked them with Zango’s settlement with the FTC.

According to Ben’s allegations, and I think the evidence stands firm, Zango doesn’t seem to live up to what the FTC requires- if you recall that November 2006, FTC Settlement let’s review a snip from Sunbelt…which i have renamed “you dropped a bomb on me baby…you dropped a bomb on me”- hope you don’t mind Alex.:

The settlement bars Zango from using its adware to communicate with consumers’ computers – either by monitoring consumers’ Web surfing activities or delivering pop-up ads – without verifying that consumers consented to installation of the adware. It bars Zango, directly or through others, from exploiting security vulnerabilities to download software, and requires that it give clear and prominent disclosures and obtain consumers’ express consent before downloading software onto consumers’ computers. It requires that Zango identify its ads and establish, implement, and maintain user-friendly mechanisms consumers can use to complain, stop its pop-ups, and uninstall its adware. It also requires that Zango monitor its third-party distributors to assure that its affiliates and their sub-affiliates comply with the FTC order. Finally, Zango will give up $3 million in ill-gotten gains to settle the charges. The settlement contains standard record keeping provisions to allow the FTC to monitor compliance.

One- Wayne Porter, Paperghost, Sunbelt, Ben Edelman, Eric Howes, Facetime, Suzi Turner, Wilder’s Security, PCPitstop, CastleCops, Spyware Warrior, Temerc, and countless other security watchdogs have noted this type of behavior for years. Others in the performance marketing industry have covered and discussed e.g. Todd Crawford- source Revenews.com per Wired, Peter Figueredo noted the “heavy settlement”…I feel it was “a slap on the wrist” and if I took things personally a “slap in the face”- good thing I don’t.

Ben’s article argues Zango’s compliance is unusually poor. For one, some of Zango’s “installs” — especially the Hotbar-descended installation sequences fail to show the “short form notice” (prior to and separate from a EULA- End User License Agreement) that the FTC settlement specifically requires. Furthermore, some Zango ads up to and including toolbar ads, desktop icons, and even some pop-ups, don’t have the labeling and hyperlinks the settlement requires. Ben’s piece has the nasty details in his usual cold, cutting and methodical fashion and this security and media researcher is not surprised.

Naturally we have video and an array of screenshots. Ironically I have to wonder if this is what they mean by “the long tail” and “user generated content”- lets “help keep the internet free” or something similiar?

Since I have been talking about video ala Steve Rosenbaum (I did warn about never going the “adware” route) so keep that in mind Steve if you open things up…fine line between fair money and trust.

Article on violations here…highlights include:

This article summarizes selected incidents I have recently observed. In particular:

Widespread Zango “ActiveX” Installations without Unavoidable, Prominent Disclosure of Material Terms (XP SP1 and Earlier).

Widespread Zango Banner-Based Installations without Unavoidable, Prominent Disclosure of Material Terms (XP SP2).

Ongoing Zango Installations with No Disclosure Whatsoever.

Unlabeled Zango Ads - Toolbars, Desktop Icons, and Pop-Ups.

Zango Ads for Bogus Sites that Attempt to Defraud Users.

These practices call into question the integrity of Zango’s business, as well as the status of Zango’s compliance with its obligations under its recent settlement with the FTC.

And let’s not forget the outcome–as he sums up FTC retort to himself and respected colleague Eric Howes of Sunbelt-

When Zango and the FTC announced their settlement, Zango claimed that it had “met or exceeded the key notice and consent standards since January 1, 2006.” I emphatically disagree. With widespread ongoing installations that fail to provide the notice required under the settlement, Zango cannot claim to provide the necessary notice before installing. And with widespread toolbar, desktop icon, and even popup ads still lacking the labeling required under the settlement, Zango cannot claim to be consistently providing the on-ad notice the settlement demands.

In a letter to me and to Eric Howes, responding to our concerns about enforcement of the FTC’s then-proposed settlement with Zango, the FTC said it “recognizes that it must be vigilant regarding Zango’s conduct once the proposed order becomes final.” I have previously remarked on FTC enforcement actions I consider too timid or narrow (echoing the position of FTC Commissioner Leibowitz). Whatever my prior concerns, these widespread violations by Zango offer the FTC a clear opportunity to demonstrate the importance of full compliance with settlement terms. I look forward to a tough and effective response from the FTC.

This is the proverbial baton I was talking about in another post.

The more imaginative and effective are the weapons that are real. Never pull a baton you don’t intend to use, and batons come in many shapes and forms if you think metaphorically.

The FTC needs to wield said metaphorical baton…so the settlement is truly settled. Otherwise I predict what Jimmy Daniel’s echoes in this post of months past…or let’s go further back in history…..quote myself.

Companies will be measured by what they do and not what they say. Trust is not given, trust is earned.

I remember it well- inspired by this summit ages ago hosted by Esther Dyson. I recapped my thoughts almost a year later…and yet ANOTHER YEAR has flown by. My children have become fluent in “malwarese”. Sad.

We are beyond summits…

I don’t want to hear “the affiliate did it defense” either…

I desperately want to be able to tell my children one thing- their government responded decisively.

It is sad enough I have to educate them about this ongoing problem.

Addendum: Zango refutes the findings.

E Commerce Free Software Government & Politics Personal Privacy Security Skype wayne porter

Popularity: 6% [?]

Share This

Ambient Sound Investments, made up of the Skype core four lopped in a Series A funding round in 3D social networking company Frenzoo.

Frenzoo is in private beta (taps foot…) but the similiarities to Second Life ala Asian style cannot be missed. Creation of virtual 3D characters (Avatars), branded clothes, footwear, accessories, furniture and lifestyle items. I wonder if they have weapons though? No social networking experience is complete without offensive and defensive fun. Perhaps to the chagrin of Enterprises on these networks as reports are trickling back to me about Nigerian phishing scams in Second Life, incredible offensive weaponry despite locking down grids, (Tried one- and knocked one friend’s mech three thousand yards into a private reef.) and the ever growing threat of listening devices, avatar scanners, and omnipresent social engineering- which is even easier given 3D worlds to augment the engineers ability.

The web’s worst goes 3D! From social interaction to avatar firepower…bank on it.

It is notable Frenzoo will compete with HiPihi, another well funded Second Life from China institutional angel investor GCIC. Shanda also announced that it will be launching a Chinese Second Life clone. But the action heats up yet again as another Chinese virtual community game developer, UOneNet Technology, finished its second round of funding too.

Are these worlds for “real”. Once again, given that reality is merely what you and I agree upon at any given moment in time- the question is relative and somewhat moot. Is money real?

Will they meet mass adoption and become the next groundwork for interaction? I think so. Sony rumors swirl around little old Club Penguin…it’s all avatar in the future…the big question is will EULAs rule or the law of the “real land”. I find that more interesting.

3D social networking E Commerce Free Software Frenzoo future HiPihi Second Life Security Skype Social Networks

Popularity: 9% [?]

Share This

At least episode I does…(I Worship his Shadow). The guys who brought you Skype now bring out Joost, and so far I am impressed…back to Lexx, a show I never thought I would catch again.

“I am Kai. Last of the Brunnen-G. Millenia ago the Brunnen-G led humanity to victory in the war against the insect civilization. The Time Prophet predicted that I would be the one to destroy the Divine Order and The League of 20,000 Planets. Someday that will happen, but not today, as today is the day of my death. The day our story begins…”

– Kai (I Worship His Shadow)

Those wanting a free Joost invite- just drop a note, I’ll get to it as I can, it appears to the tight caps are being lifted.

Brunnen G download skype addons IPTV I Worship His Shadow joost joost invites Lexx P2P P2PTV science fiction Skype Social Networks technology Video web2.0 widgets

Popularity: 9% [?]

Share This

While delving around the Skype Developer’s Zone I was intrigued and curious by what was hot and what was not- according to their data at least- the number one application so far?- CrazyTalk- which is based around virtual avatars, among other features…Actually many of the applications, at this point, are more about self-expression, moods, avatars, rather than business- even with really good video in Skype’s current iteration. I’ll need to do more research and test many of these, but I found it very interesting.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Share This

Get Joost

Joost (pronounced ‘juiced’) is an interactive software for distributing TV shows and other forms of video over the Web using peer-to-peer tv technology, created by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis the same two that founded Skype and Kazaa.

Joost began development in 2006. Working under the code name “The Venice Project”. The program is based on P2PTV technology and promises near-TV resolution images. In short it turns your PC into on-demand Television without any need for hardware. News updates, discussion forums, show ratings, and multi-user chat sessions (often linked to the active stream/channel) are made possible through the use of semi-transparent widget overlays….

widgets…yes widgets…

Joost’s “Composition”

- Based on XULRunner
- Audio from ZAP Media Kit.
- P2P layer from the Joltid company, (they did Skype’s p2p layer)
-Video playback utilizes the CoreCodec, CoreAVC H.264 video decoder.

I think this one is going to be large. Still in closed beta, but I know a beta tester…hmmmm.

Then we have Zattoo

OK No bad Fantasy Island puns.

Zattoo is a proprietary P2PTV system (as I understand it) focused on the European market. As of December 2006, the product is in public beta testing. The player is based on H.264 (QuickTime and ffmpeg), and is Mac OS X and Windows XP compatible. It needs a minimum downstream bandwidth of 400kbps client side.

On to China and TVUnetworks and TVUPlayer

TVUnetworks is an Internet-based P2PTV company based in China. Interesting. The software they produce is called TVUPlayer, which uses peer-to-peer technology to distribute TV stations from a global selection.

Chew on some Babelgum

Babelgum is software developed by Babel Networks, from former Fastweb’s founder Silvio Scaglia started in 2005 with the aim to develop interactive software for distributing TV shows and other forms of video over the Web using peer-to-peer tv technology.

Go left with Zudeo

Zudeo is both a BitTorrent client and content service by Azureus, Inc. The website allows users to upload, download and share video content using this client. Unlike video sharing websites such as YouTube, Zudeo focuses on DVD-quality and high-definition video content

Why do I bring it up now? Because I don’t see many people talking about it…or maybe I am not listening to the right people. I know Joost is on some of my colleague’s radar…but what of the rest?

Bonus Points

- Revenue Sharing
- Interactive T.V.
- Web 2.0
- Social and Media

1000 Bonus Points if you can figure out what traditional affiliate network was way too early for the rise of P2PTV and related technology.

E Commerce P2P P2PTV Skype technology Video

Popularity: 7% [?]

Share This

VoIP Tangle Week…The VoIP arena Sees a Serious Techno Tango Slugfest among heavyweights, but I am watching the Social Media Infrastructure Plays…by the Mountaineers in Cisco Systems. They know what it is all about!

AVAYA SOA PROMISE

On March 5th Avaya promised Telephony 2.0 announcing new capabilities that bring SOA (service-oriented architecture) bred into telephony so companies can easily integrate this into their business processes. I decided to hold my breath on AV.

AVAYA and LENOVO UNITE AROUND FINGERS and SOFTPHONE

Avaya then announces their IP Softphone and the inclusion of biometric logins via a deal with Lenovo which promises authentication and therefore prevention of unauthorized calls- this makes sense. All through Lenova’s fingerprint reader and Password Manager (which I actually like). To boot the ThinkPads will also come with a message waiting light, transforming the keyboard illumination function (Function-Page Up Key) into a visual alert to check voicemail. Clever- I love the keyboard illumination light too- not sure if I will like it blinking though. However, it is those little features, like the light, that make you love the Thinkpad line.

THINKPAD BUYING TIPS & DEALS

Yes- I am a huge fan and I think everyone should get one- put Ubuntu on it for irony.

INSIDER TIP 1 Place your order, then have them call you back, (click the text box that says call back) sometimes, if you seem confused you can get that finger print reader for free- or weasel something- just be confused and they will often throw a tidbit or two in for free and my reps are always honest if something sucks. Thinkpads are just great machines. I am a loyalist and my Libretto nor Alienware compare.

INSIDER TIP 2- try the Lenova Discount Outlet - don’t bank on customization though- you might try their Special Offers Page. but if you like low prices and not afraid to up the power later…you might try looking at Ubid. I did by an X 40 Series off of ebay once, back when it was IBM, but I prefer the customization. Still try ubid it isn’t as flooded.

ME AND THE IMPENDING ThinkPad T60p WIDESCREEN SERIES

I just purchased one of the new, heavily loaded, Lenova T60P, (Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7600 (2.33GHz, 4MB L2, 667MHz FSB with an ATI Mobility Fire GL V5250 with 256MB, 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT and 3 GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz SODIMM Memory…sadly all the jumbo hard drives were at 5400 RPM so I settled on a 100GB Hard Disk Drive at 7200rpm)) perhaps too soon, even with a 3-4 week wait- forgoing my love and tradition of the ultra-lite X series which I have had a model 20, 30, 40, and 60. I was never a fan of the R Series, Z Series, but I am now interested in the T series). If I had waited a bit? Maybe I would be all VoIP, because according to Avaya this is not a roadmap- this is reality…right after Avaya’s announced move into SOA they are actually going to do something “clever”.

Per Information Week

Avaya’s CEO Louis D’Ambrosio kicked off this year’s VoiceCon conference in Orlando, Fla., with a bang. D’Ambrosio, in an opening keynote address, announced a partnership with Lenovo to integrate Avaya’s Internet Protocol telephony capabilities in Lenovo’s notebook computers along with a suite of services for communications-enabled business processes. D’Ambrosio prepped the audience by making a bold statement that intelligent communications, a term Avaya uses to describe converged IP telephony networks designed for communications that go beyond voice, is happening today and is not a vision of the future. “We’re not talking roadmaps here. Intelligent communications is a reality,” he said.

Avaya wants to be the leader in that market. It’s teaming up with Lenovo to pre-load advanced IP telephony features on Lenovo’s ThinkPad notebooks in hopes of enhancing the communications experience for business professionals as they place and receive phone calls from their computers.

BACK IN THE BATCAVE in REDMOND

Meanwhile back in Redmond (NASDAQ: MSFT) Microsoft is getting set to release enhanced VoIP Solutions. The big deal- MSFT predicts in the next three years 100 million office customers will shift to software and click to call. No kidding with Let’sTalk’s incredibly low international rates and options like Skype for Business are now on the table. I don’t sense anything approaching brilliant from MSFT in that prediction- you don’t need hardware there- well minimal. Go ahead download Skype and try it- PC to PC calls are free, the video rocks (except for Mac- which appears to have moved in retrograde in latest version) and I use it more than anything else. Of course it sports AES Encryption, port agility, tunneling and other SOX and HIPPA inducing problems- but Facetime got the IM and VoIP Security call on that one- as did SYMT.

Google is allready distributing it well where else but among other goodies in their pack:

I wonder if they go all VoIP soon and cozy up to someone…if any company has problems it is Google (NASDAQ:GOOG). Problems…at any rate I imagine it will happen.

NORTEL RE-DELAYS THE DELAY

Last week Nortel (NYSE/Toronto: NT) announced that it will delay the filing of its 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, until mid-March 2007. The company will also restate earnings for 2004, 2005, and the first nine months of 2006… again- wow. Now that is a re-statement. I doubt it will have any real effect. This week they are preaching ACTA. The ATCA standards, organized by the PICMG espouse a generic telecom chassis, that allows systems vendors to buy a “shell of hardware” and some software from outside suppliers. In theory this shortens the design cycle and lowers costs which will free vendors to focus their braintrust on software development. Ahem.

CISCO SYSTEMS GETS “SOCIAL MEDIA CLARITY”

OK- intentional buzzword alert, oldy but goody, for Greg at SMOmashup.c