Whatever...

Extra! Extra! Read less about it!

By Jonathan Mathias

Every so often there comes along an app or website that almost every publication dedicates loads of column inches to.  Obviously Twitter was a big deal when it launched (and still is).  Quora, on the other hand suddenly popped up as 'the new Wikipedia’, but failed to live up to the hype.  As did Draw Something/OMGPOP, remember that?  (Zynga probably wants to forget all about it). 

Now the new kid on the block is Summly.  Written by 17 year old Nick D'Aloisio, you’d be hard pressed to have missed all the acres of news coverage on it – which is hardly surprising given the backing it’s got.  It seems that the news aggregating and summarising app is a panacea for how we can possibly cope with information overload in our increasingly hectic and mobile lives. 

I’ve been trialling the app over the past week or so and, not wanting to get into a full on review, it’s alright.  It is hard to navigate, as pointed out in this BBC piece, the majority of the stories seem to just come from Reuters, Sky and the Guardian and my biggest peeve is that it doesn’t update very often for me, particularly my custom searches where most of the content is days old, so I’m worried about missing things, which kind of defeats any time-saving element. 

Indeed, from the same BBC piece I mention, this quote stands out for me: "We can really become the de-facto format for news on mobile. People are not scrolling through 1,000-word articles - they want snack-sized information."  That’s some claim.  Summly does seem to fall somewhere between Twitter and actually visiting individual news sources, but it gets me thinking about the whole cause and effect that leads to an app like Summly being created in the first place. 

People don’t seem to have time any more to read just about anything, certainly not long feature articles – and definitely not on a week day.  So, one would surmise, it would make sense that apps like Summly would find success in addressing this.  I’m really not sure they do, though.  I think it’s a case of ‘more speed less haste’.  You’re really going to be better off just making the time to read and understand things properly to begin with. 

A commonly used phrase on the internet, ‘too long; didn’t read’, shortened to tl;dr, is often used at the end of long posts for those who can’t be bothered to read the whole thing, so... 

tl;dr: Summly fills a gap in the market, but does it address the underlying issue?

Obama wins real-world and cyber election

Yesterday, the Oxford Internet Institute released a map of the US charting the visibility on Twitter of both the country’s presidential candidates, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, prior to the polling results. The data predicted that Obama would be re-elected as, according to the Institute, he had been tweeted about more frequently than his Republican rival.

Well, the results are in and, as you know (unless you really have been living in a cave), Obama has indeed won a second term in the White House.

Does that mean Twitter can really be useful in predicting the outcome of events?  After all, this doesn’t take into account sentiment or indeed represent any real link between mentions and actual votes.  It will be interesting to see how Twitter trends continue to correlate with the real world and whether we see new technologies and services that can make tangible use from the findings.  What do you think we’ll see by the time the next US election comes around?   

The cost of information

By Ginnia Cheng

Last week, Hurricane Sandy swept through the U.S., forcing a nation already divided by a tense presidential race to come to a complete standstill. The worst storm to ever hit the east coast has caused damage estimated to be in “the tens of billions of dollars, making the storm one of the five most expensive disasters in U.S. history”.

Today, when significant events rapidly unfold, the very first place you’d turn to for information is the web. Maybe you’d log onto Twitter to see what the local reports on the ground are, or check Facebook to see if friends and family have been affected – but, for dependable reports, especially surrounding potentially life-saving information, you’d no doubt seek out the most credible news sources. 

Interestingly, as Hurricane Sandy hit the US, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal temporarily suspended their paywalls in order to give users full access to information they might need to deal with the affects of the storm.

Although some would consider this a noble gesture, questions have been asked regarding the motivation of such a move.  For example, this piece on GigaOM looks at the tension between news sources as a vehicle for public information and as commercial entities.

This isn’t the first time that the NYT has lifted its controversial paywall.  It was briefly removed when Hurricane Irene hit the U.S. last year. However, there was much debate over how it remained closed following the death of Bin Laden.

While it may be the case that a move to drop paywalls could be for commercial, rather than emotional reasons, as both an avid consumer of information online and a professional involved in the digital media world, it’s interesting to consider the conflict between the ‘vision and the reality of the newspaper business’ at a time when the internet has given us unlimited access to so much free information. 

Is Twitter distorting public opinion?

By Lindsey Challis

I read an article last week that weighed up if Twitter is good for democracy – whether it’s a forum for debate that allows the wider populace to be heard, or a cluster of #sheep repeating the same sentiments.  

Admittedly, there is a lot of repetition on Twitter and the nature of the retweet only adds to this.  I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing. However, as Reddit pushes the most popular things in its community towards the ‘front page’, popular Twitter topics start trending. Redditors and Tweeters can instantly see the conversations shaping public discourse, whether that be an X Factor strop or the latest revelations regarding a shamed television presenter. 

It is foolish to believe that everyone reads the papers cover to cover, and as the pace of life increases and the volume of news content increases, the need to absorb information quickly is shaping how we consume and reflect on the news.  Twitter’s popularity is, in my opinion, indicative of how we want to know what’s going on around us – quick, to the point, and above all current. 

By the time news has hit the papers it’s often no longer new, the articles increasingly take an analytical approach, as they leave the breaking news for Twitter streams and websites.  But, rather than swaying the headlines and giving a disproportionate amount of attention to a single view, I would argue that Twitter brings more people into a discussion and makes more people think about a current affair.  It is far easier to overlook an article in a newspaper than ignore something all your friends and followers are tweeting about.  If more people know about the EU getting the Nobel Peace Prize for example, then it naturally follows that more people will have an opinion on it. 

Twitter also maximises the exposure of news around the internet.  In a conversation among friends it’s often difficult to get into a conversation you know little about, and it is certainly easier to be swayed by those discussing it, particularly if they are the ones to explain the issue in the first place.  With Twitter, the simplicity of being able to click on a link directing Tweeters to a news site and the ability to ‘Google it’, means that it is much more likely for the Tweeter to form their own opinion based on balanced information. Crucially, although the subject of an article may be dictated by its popularity on Twitter, the opinions generated, in it, from it and from the issue itself is more than ever likely to have a variety of influences. 

It’s true that this does completely depend on which Tweeters you follow, what Tweets you pay attention to and how much you think before you Tweet – but at the very least, Twitter makes it easier for users to be aware of news, to understand the issue in question, and far quicker to form an opinion on that debate.  Admittedly, people may be too quick to comment in some instances but that’s something which we’ve all been guilty of at some point!  Like it or loathe it, no-one wants to be left in the dark and Twitter is shinning a light on many of the conversations that are shaping society today.

The need for speed

By Monsur Ahmed 

Finally, after weeks of wrangling and threats of legal action, EE will be rolling out its 4G service with the auction for other spectrums to go ahead much sooner than originally expected. Which is great news considering not only will it provide much higher speeds (see BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones impressive demo) but it also promises to boost economic growth as well as adding billions to the government’s coffers that could potentially be used to build thousands of new homes and create new jobs. 

Whilst the macro-economic benefits are very much welcomed, what does it mean for the mobile phone user? With DSL level speeds (up-to 30mb), its expected people will be able to watch videos from services such as iPlayer or 4oD, without interruption or buffering. In addition, with its much stronger and stable connection as well its greater range, it’ll be a welcome advancement for those in hard to reach or built up areas. However getting 4G may not be as attainable and accessible as EE’s executives would like us to think.

As everyone is well aware, you’ll need a brand new phone that’s 4G compatible – but not just any 4G phone. Any 4G phone bought before mid September, except the iPhone 5, won’t work on EE due to differing operating frequencies. So anyone who bought a Samsung S3 when it launched, frustratingly won’t be able to utilise its 4G capability.

More annoyingly the current iPhone 5 won’t work on O2 and Vodafone, when they release their own version of 4G next year. To remedy this O2 have offered a ‘promise’ to customers, allowing them to sign up for the iPhone 5, but then letting them upgrade to a 4G version as and when Apple releases a handset that will work on its network. Without getting into the T&Cs, O2 is essentially offering its customers the option of buying another handset for a slight discount or buying themselves out of their contract by trading in their current phone and paying the difference. It’s not much of an incentive and it’s expected that O2 will lose many of customers to EE when many of its iPhone legacy customers contracts run out. 

To add further difficulties, while switching to EE will be free for T-mobile and Orange users, the cost of using their 4G service certainly won’t be. Whilst the executives of EE have been vague around pricing plans, it’s expected there will be an extra levy to have the privilege of using 4G on top of your standard contract. EE’s executives have been keen to assert that their 4G service is intended for the mass market and will not be the preserve of the elite. Yet the extra charge on top of a new expensive contract may only be viable for those that really want the extra speed and are prepared to pay for it or those that can simply afford it. 

All in all, hopefully like all new technological innovations, I hope 4G will become more affordable in future, with cheaper handsets as well as cheaper contracts when EE has actually has competition for the service. 

 

LinkedIn becomes a follower

By Mike King

Maybe it’s my age that’s causing resistance to change, but news that LinkedIn has announced the addition of ‘follower’ functionality to its site doesn’t strike me as particularly welcome.  In an attempt to become another me-too social media site, the network for business users has formed a new panel of influencers and is allowing other LinkedIn users to follow them without having to connect directly. 

Apart from the glaring lack of originality in the idea (there’s already ample opportunity to follow these individuals elsewhere on the web) LinkedIn seems to be completely missing the point.  The site is very successful (it is by far the largest networking site for professionals with more than 175million users) and there’s a clear reason why - people find it useful as it is.  Its financial performance would support this, with revenue more than doubling year on year in its last completed year to December 2011. 

LinkedIn has clear differentiation from other sites (of course there are other online business networks like Plaxo and Viadeo, for example, but none that have the size and influence of LinkedIn).  It is great for keeping in touch with ex-colleagues and for tracking down people you’ve worked with in the past, or would like to work with in the future. Its clear focus and relative absence of crap and pointless noise compared to other social networking sites are precisely why it is so successful.    

LinkedIn is essentially a global directory of business professionals.  This may be a fairly basic proposition but there’s nothing wrong with that.  Trying to change itself to become something it isn’t strikes me as a mistake.  

When France meets technology

By Olivia Ronsain

Today is iPhone5 launch day in France, and guess what: part of the Apple Store staff has gone on strike!

Despite its 13 French stores, a turnover of €205 million – a 55% increase on last year - “Apple Retail France”, has made a loss of €10 million.  This loss is due to massive investments in Apple’s business development in France, and as a result, workers get no bonus. Furthermore, no sales based incentives exist, which is extremely bizarre for this profession.

Finally, some of the standard perks in France, such as financial bonuses, salary increases (the Apple store salary of €1300/month is really low for Paris), flexible working hours and the “thirteenth month bonus”, which corresponds to a month of salary and is usually offered at the end of the year, are non-negotiable.  Apple only agreed to provide lunch tickets as the only benefit.

And there you go!

Although French people are not the most spectacular geeks – with technology trends often lagging behind other countries - Apple is a highly sought-after brand here in France, and the Apple Store concept has been warmly welcomed.  Firstly, the Apple Store located in the prestigious Louvre Museum centre is open 7 days a week (almost unheard of here), with the “genius” people usually able to answer your questions and carry out minor repairs on your devices.  Moreover, you can try out all the products in-store, which is so far the only outlet offering this service.

Unfortunately, despite all the excitement for Apple products and employees’ pride in working for one of the trendiest companies around, we’re not even close to making a change in the French mentality.  If French law doesn’t force employers to adapt, employees’ strikes will – and what better time for Apple employees to make their plea heard than during the company’s biggest launch of the year?

Whether you like it or not, you can’t ignore the power of the strike.  That’s the beauty of France.

The Internet 'a Decade Later'

It's fair to say that the internet continues to grow at an incredible rate.  Internet traffic is projected to approach 1 zettabyte per year in 2015 — that’s equivalent to all the digital data in existence in 2010 (more amazing stats like this over on the Google stats page here.)  

This very neat (and very massive) infographic from Best Education Sites will take you on a journey to the past, where web pages didn't even have pictures, let alone mobile versions, social media widgets and videos... click below for the full graphic.

 

Apple fans rejoice: the iPhone 5 has landed

By Charlotte Martin

This week saw another highly anticipated launch from Apple – this time the iPhone 5, which will go on sale next week – and will be no doubt be marked by thousands of hardcore fans in sleeping bags, queuing around the block of every Apple store in the world!

While Apple’s latest offering boasts faster web usage, along with iOS6, the new operating system, its USP will really be its status as the first 4G iPhone.  Indeed, Apple has confirmed that its latest offering will be run on the Everything Everywhere (EE) network – formed by T-Mobile and Orange – the first provider of 4G coverage in Britain. With EE expected to roll out 4G coverage to 16 UK cities by the end of the year, the iPhone 5 looks to be the start of a new era in wireless connectivity – a fact responsible for much of the excitement around this new release.

In terms of style, Apple hasn’t strayed far from the design of its previous models.  The latest addition to the ever popular iPhone family has a taller, bigger screen – allowing space for an extra row of apps on the home screen – and is a thinner and lighter handset than its predecessors.  While the iPhone 5’s appearance is more of a change from the last model, when compared with the virtually identical 4 and 4S models, it did prompt criticism on Twitter, with many expressing disappointment that Apple has again chosen to play it safe.  Additionally, perhaps the major sticking point for many Apple fans will be the new smaller ‘Lightning’ connector, which will make all previous iPhone accessories and chargers obsolete.

The old adage that ‘you can’t please 100% of people 100% of the time’ is certainly true, but the fairly mixed response to this launch perhaps suggests that some of us are becoming a little bored with ‘samey’ releases from Apple.  On the other hand, the 4S also came with its fair share of criticism, with Siri bearing the brunt of much frustration from consumers – myself included...  Yet regardless, it still went on to become the best selling iPhone, with more 4S handsets having been sold than all previous models combined.  No doubt, despite the mixed reception of the iPhone5 so far, the company’s famously loyal fan base will ensure that the iPhone 5 goes down in history as yet another Apple success story.

Spirit in motion: the tech behind the stars

By Hannah Townsend 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Olympic park to watch the Paralympic athletics.

Although the park lived up to all my expectations, it wasn’t the spectacular stadium, the buzzing atmosphere or the ridiculously upbeat volunteers that impressed me the most – it was the athletes themselves. And beyond that, the technology that enabled them to achieve things you wouldn’t think possible.

Growing up, a friend of mine had only one arm, so I’ve seen the clunky, uncomfortable prosthetics that are available. Yet here the athletes were sporting sleek, hi-tech attachments that are so advanced that they have enabled disabled athletes to compete at a similar level to the able-bodied.  Oscar Pistorius, who broke a world record during my visit to the stadium, is a prime example, becoming the first double amputee to qualify for an Olympic semi-final.

Other technology that can’t be ignored is the F1 inspired wheelchairs designed by BMW for the GB wheelchair basketball team, or the Ghost glove that trains Paralympic swimmers by offering vibrating feedback on form and posture. This Paralympics has really shown how far medical technology has come.

As such, technology has essentially dominated this Paralympics. You only need to see the headlines detailing the French complaints about GB’s ‘wheel wizardry’ during the cycling or Pistorius’ attack on Alan Oliveira following his defeat in the 200m final to see how contentious this topic is becoming.

The fact is, technology and medical science is always going to keep advancing and, when Rio comes around in four years time, I’ve no doubt that the Paralympic athletes will be able to jump that little bit higher, run that little bit faster and last that little bit longer.  What shouldn’t be overlooked in all this is the talent, perseverance and courage of those taking part – at the end of the day it’s these people that win the medals, not their blades.