Scripps Networks Launches New Online Network

Scripps has the intention of launching an online network for the building industry. It incorporates building tips, new product information, and insider information on trends. The network introduces "the virtual trade" and "contractor stories" aspects that makes it possible for its memebers to recieve first hand testimonies and experiences. "Contractor Stories" allow the HGTVPro visitors to sit in on refreshingly open roundtable conversations among contractors. Unrehearsed and unscripted." It is reported that the online community creates an atmosphere for builders, allowing them to learn from each other's experiences. Additionally, each of the video segements offered on the network are hosted by professional contractors."While it is a site for pros by pros, it still allows prosumers to 'peek over the fence' and better understand their builder's world." http://www.writenews.com/2005/011405_hgtvpro_scripps.htm

iPhone teaser ad

for those of you that watched the Oscars on sunday- did you see the teaser add for Apple's iPhone?
i thought it as brilliant- simple, fun, and a great concept. it seems as if licensing the clips from the major studios will pave the way for new multimedia content that will be featured on the iPhone.

shuffling speakers

tomorrow we were supposed to have marco ilardi of myspace speak at the class. marco can no longer make it tomorrow but will be coming in to speak next week - march 8th. I had planned to show a documentary on blogging that day so I'm going to switch that. tomorrow the second half of the class we'll watch blogumentary. and lest you think that means you have permission to leave during the break, I'll be taking attendance at the end of class.

Microsoft vs. Playstation

Online gaming was met with many objections. However, with the recent flow of online gamers, it is obvious that this market creates enormous potential to advance the experience of gaming. It is reported that communicating with freinds and strangers, and creating an identity for yourself is core to the online gaming scene. Some players maintain a reputation of "invinsible" in the online gaming community, and players from different countries are able to link up with thier favorite gaming buddies in the US. This behavior is common with game such as "Call of Duty" and "Madden." With the sucsess of online gaming experienced by Microsoft, Playstation 3 was determined to rival its competitor with the release of the system. Many gamers say that playstation's online capabiliteis with plastation 2 were "patchy." Among many of the extreme gamers, suspicions have been raised with the efficiency of playstations ability to provide a compatible network for its users. Consequently, 3 out of 5 gamers prefer Microsoft's online gaming community vs. that of Playstation.

Myspace clip!

I thought that this clip tied in well to how people create their identities on myspace...

MySpace Postcards

My friend dirrected me to the site http://www.kiwee.com. On this site you can make postcards/commentcards to post on myspace pages. You can search for any type of postcard you want from cute to flirt or everyday. The pictures move also. Pretty cool... check it out.

Fakesters

As I am not familiar with Friendster at all, I was not fully sure what the Danah Boyd article meant when it referred to "fakesters." Simple put they are people who make fake accounts that aren't really who they are or sometimes even people at all (they may take on objects, abstract nouns, historical moments or people etc.). Here is a pretty substansive article by Lessley Anderson in the San Fransisco Weekly that does a good job of explaining what fakesters are and how they have changed and influenced friendster (paying special attention to how Friendster CEO Jonathan Abrams objects to them.)