9 hours ago by Navneet Alang
Last week, when rumors broke that YouTube might finally become profitable, most of the response was actually pretty snarky.
As an example, take the initial post at Slashdot – it suggested that it was about time that YouTube was making some money. If anything, YouTube’s success – which certainly has been a long time coming – seemed like something that was well overdue.
But another take on YouTube’s slow, steady move into profitability is a bit different. Instead of snarky, it is optimistic.
Why? Well, first is that maybe it had to take this long to create a viable online business model for video; and second is that, though YouTube’s model meant profitability was a long time coming, that it has now proven to work means it is in fact a model and a beacon of hope of for other online businesses going forward. more »
Yesterday by Navneet Alang
Though recently it has been the smartphone market that has garnered the most attention in the tech world, the arrival of a revamped – if slightly disappointing – Apple TV is a reminder that the living room is the next big play for digital transformation.
Think about it: unlike so many other sectors of society, the living room is one in which traditional approaches to media still largely dominate. DVD sales still dwarf streaming and online video in both numbers and revenue, while the web has yet to make any serious inroads onto people’s TVs.
So there is a massive market ready for the taking – if only someone can figure out a way to make money off not only the tons of content floating around out there, but the hundreds of different sources, from cable companies, to online streaming to specialized apps like Netflix. more »
Sep 4 by James Mowery
If you enjoy adrenaline-filled racing, bone-crushing tackles, mind-blowing saves, and earth-shattering home runs, chances are pretty good that you have a satellite or cable subscription. This is reality: sports lovers can’t ditch their expensive television providers — not if they want to continue to enjoy the sports they love. Or can they?
Let’s get the obvious out of the way — big media doesn’t like change. Big media would prefer that consumers pay for those expensive cable or satellite subscriptions for an incredibly long time. Big media wants suck people’s wallets dry while hammering them with enough advertisements to make their heads explode. More importantly, big media, to the chagrin of most consumers, wants to keep to the status quo. more »
Sep 2 by Ty Dunitz
More than a few times, Techi readers have called me out in the comments section about my abuse of the word ‘rad’. Indeed, some have even refused to believe my endorsement or recommendation of a service, product or idea unless I say it. Suffice it to say, it seems to be my catchphrase.
But let me tell you about something that isn’t rad. Something that could be rad, but verifiably isn’t. For now. That something is iTunes 10. I literally stayed up all night, moving some new music and fiddling around with the latest version of Apple’s music player, and guys. I have got to say. I’m not impressed.
Now, bear in mind, I was a huge fan of iTunes 9.2. more »
Sep 1 by Navneet Alang
Now that the Internet has ever-so-slightly calmed down after another Apple-induced frenzy, it’s time to step back and think about the significance of Apple’s announcements on Wednesday afternoon.
What did Apple bestow upon us from up high? Well, as you probably know by now, we got new iPods and a revamped Apple TV. The iPod Shuffle got its groove – um, I mean buttons – back; the iPod Nano is now basically all screen; the iPod Touch is, once again, just like an iPhone without a phone; and Apple also announced iOS 4.1, and a product you may have heard one or four-hundred rumors about, the Apple TV.
How did they do? Was this a knock your socks off iPad keynote? more »
Aug 31 by Navneet Alang
For years now, what web sites do with our data has become a serious problem in the online world. From confusing settings on Facebook – like their recent decision to again set strange defaults in Facebook Places – to online banking, how information about our lives is protected, distributed and use online has become a real issue.
The big sticking point? Every individual site has its own rules about how it uses data. That means that not only do users have to carefully parse the user agreements for each site, they have to keep track of any ongoing changes.
Think about that: that’s like you having to read new credit terms for every store you visit, rather than relying on 1 or 2 credit cards and a bank card for your transactions – or worse, like having a separate bank account for each place you purchase things from. more »
Aug 30 by David Lux
With summer officially winding down, now is the time to take those little road trips and weekend getaways. Naturally, a well chosen selection of tech gear can make those hours in your car even more enjoyable, as well as more memorable.
The question then becomes: what should I bring? While there’s a full gamut of gear we can discuss that would be perfect for specific outings, whether your trip includes laying out on the beach or hiking through mountain terrain, let’s stick with the essentials that are universally handy regardless of your destination.
GPS
Whenever you’re traversing unfamiliar territory, a GPS device can become a lifesaver. more »
Aug 30 by James Mowery
The HTC EVO 4G is one of few in a lineup of “superphones” that have hit the market recently with Android power behind it. But the EVO might just be the best of them all. So is this powerhouse by HTC the best phone that money can buy today? Well, you’ll have to read our review to find out!
Let’s kickstart this review with a bit of a shocker: this is the time in my life when I have actually said “wow” out loud from a first impression (and I am somewhat hard to impress). Soon after first experiencing this phone, I quickly realized that the EVO is what the future of mobile phones should look like, feel like, and be like. But the amazing part is that it is all right here in the palm of my hand. more »
Aug 26 by Navneet Alang
Regular readers of Techi know that we love Digg and that, most of the time anyway, Digg loves us.
So when Digg rolled out version 4 of its social aggregation site – or v4 as many have called it – many, including us, were excited, particularly because there have been rumors of Digg’s waning influence. The refresh promised to not only reinvigorate the platform, but also make it competitive with the massive influence of Facebook and increasing presence of Twitter.
Alas, not all is well with the new Digg. In fact, many people are downright angry at some of the changes and flaws with the new site. Complaints range from the design to changed functions. But not everything about the new site is bad, however; quite to the contrary, some of it is excellent. more »
Aug 25 by Navneet Alang
Net Neutrality – the idea that all internet traffic should be treated equally regardless of source or purpose – is, to put it mildly, a hotly debated topic.
There is a huge variety of arguments on both sides of the fence, many of them both compelling and complex – and in light of the recent agreement between Google and Verizon, many have been revisiting the debate. At stake is an essential question: whether or not the growth and development of the internet should be something regulated by government or guided by free enterprise.
But also at stake in the debate is whether or not the internet will be a new force for making society a better place; or if like previous media, it will simply reinforce everything that’s wrong with society. more »
