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News
Game On
The rating game continues to rage on as the gaming world is called upon to rate their games according to BBFC regulations. Electronic Arts (EA) is arguing against recommendations that the Cinema style rating by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) should be applied to computer games for under 18 year olds. EA maintains that the current voluntary, self-regulatory PEGI (Pan-European Game Information age rating system) scheme isn’t confusing and should instead have legal reinforcement.
Morphing Websites
A website totally dedicated to the individual could be around the corner as researchers at MIT’s Sloan School of Management have developed website analysis systems which construct algorithms based on a user’s interaction on a website.
Average iPod harbours 800 illegal tracks
Whilst CD sales are at their lowest in 20 years (dropped 16 per cent) illegal downloads are at their highest (increased 28 per cent).
A recent report from The University of Hertfordshire showed that although there have been stringent industry measures over music piracy, the average iPod owner – especially teenagers – are walking around with 842 illegally copied songs.
Comment
Good enough for YouTube?
Tom Dunn, Planning Associate
Saying that YouTube isn’t just videos of dogs on skateboards is almost as much of a cliché as a video of a dog on a skateboard. There are millions of videos relating to brands, which begs the question, do you know what your client looks like on YouTube?
Bitesize
Get ready for .sports, .fun, .anything
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) the non-profit organisation which manages the internet domain system unanimously voted, in Paris last week, to allow people and businesses to choose their own domain suffix.
Wish you were here
The easiest way to check out facilities of your next holiday resort has been dreamt up by IBM. Virtual-reality goggles (called immersive hotel/resort client experience) allows guests to walk around a resort to check out the facilities, without actually leaving their room (or bed). Including a virtual concierge. The Sunday Times reports several hotel chains are interested.
PDAs enter Oblivion
“CrackBerry” addicts beware. Storlling around Alton Towers with your children on a leach whilst flicking through e-mails on your BlackBerry means that you will have it confiscated.
Glastonbury rocking with wind power
Undeterred by the usual mud bath at Glastonbury at the weekend, 175,000 campers were ready for the rock festival. But this year, digital hippies were thrilled to have a new tent which housed a wind turbine generator for free charging of mobile devices.
Mind your manners online
Debrett’s, the oldest publisher which offers advice on etiquette, manners, good taste and style from how to dine to how to greet British aristocracy; has published guidelines on how to approach and treat people on social media sites.
The Numbers Page
Apprentice is the most watched BBC iPlayer show
Since its launch BBC’s iPlayer has had 75 million requests to download shows from the online player. Shows such as The Apprentice have massively increased in popularity and it has become the top BBC programme sending traffic to iPlayer.
Brits still supporting football online
The official website of UEFA Euro 2008 has had record traffic, with over one billion page views since its launch in February 2008. People from the UK have made up the highest proportion of visitors, despite not qualifying for the finals. 43 million visitors logged-in to see coverage of the matches, culminating in Spain’s victory on Sunday.
Online advertising matures gracefully
The UK Online Advertising report from eMarketer.com analyses the trends that are transforming the UK’s online ad market. 2007 saw spending on internet advertising top £2.6 billion, up more than 30% from 2006. Advertising spend continues to grow, and predictions are that it will approach £5 billion in 2012.