Internet
YouTube Upload Limits Increased
July 3, 2009
You don’t need me to tell you how big YouTube is – and with millions of hours worth of videos being uploaded every day it’s only getting bigger, and with the relatively recent introduction of high definition (HD) videos the file sizes are also following the trend of increasing in side.
So all those of you out there that like to use your HD recording ability and sharing it with the world will be glad to know that YouTube have decided to increase their upload limit allowing people to upload up to 2GB worth of video (doubling the previous 1GB maximum figure).
Continue reading »Masked Passwords – Security Over Usability?
July 1, 2009
The masking of passwords is one of those things that we don’t really think about – it’s safe to say that 99.99% of the time you enter passwords on a website the letters/numbers are blanked out with nice stars or circles – surely this helps to promote Internet safety and a way to Get Safe Online?
But isn’t this just common sense? Surely having it as a failsafe in case someone is looking over your shoulder isn’t such a bad idea? Well according to a couple of experts in the field not only are they pointless, but can also be counterproductive with regards to security and are calling for the end of them.
Continue reading »‘The Video Bay’ Is Released As Trial Drags On
June 29, 2009
Over the last few months we have followed trial of the “Pirate Bay Four” and seen how, although they did ultimately find them guilty, it has brought shame on the Swedish judicial system after a series of claims questioning the neutrality of the judges amid the already lengthy and convoluted trial.
As such it is unsurprising that (as we predicted) the story is back again, and with a few more variables just for good measure. Of course this has a lot to do with the fact that it is in the interest of the Pirate Bay founders to keep the story on the agenda, and I’m sure the timing of “The Video Bay” release (which I will cover later) is not coincidental.
Continue reading »Twitter Gives Daily Mail A Stupid Answer To Its Stupid Question
June 23, 2009
Now here’s something to remember for any news sites out there (especially the Daily Mail) that like to run polls on topical issues and the like – don’t ask loaded questions! Or to put it a better way, don’t ask a stupid question or you’ll just get a stupid answer, especially online given how social networks such as Twitter can quickly spread information!
Bing TV Advert
June 18, 2009
Microsoft recently re-launched their search engine business with their Bing “decision engine” which they’re hoping will start to make dent into Google’s current overwhelming market share – Bing is already more popular than Yahoo!
Although you can use Bing wherever you are in the world, some of the main features are only being targeted towards the US-based users to begin with and as such Microsoft have been running a Bing TV advert on some of the American TV networks.
Continue reading »Opera Unite – A Web Revolution?
June 17, 2009
If there’s one phrase that we have heard far too much of over the last few months (apart from credit crunch) it’s ‘revolutionising the web’. Numerous companies, most notable Google with their Wave, claim that their ideas will change the way we think about the internet, and what we do on it.
And so Opera (with 15 years of ‘browser innovation’ behind them, including having the impressive Opera Mobile 9.5) have released their plan, and it comes in the shape of Unite which essentially turns any computer running Opera – admittedly not many at the moment – into a web server. Although this may sound simple or even irrelevant it could well spell the future for internet browsing.
Continue reading »Facebook Vanity or Insanity URLs?
June 16, 2009
Nothing pleases me more than stupidity. My feelings towards its existence, however, are weirdly balanced. I sit pleasantly between cackling like a witch at how much stupid people need to be charged Stupid Tax and feeling happy that there’s a portion of the human population that keeps us all entertained. They’re a necessary evil and I can tolerate their dumb behaviour… just about. There’s definitely an art to it and since everyone else has jumped on this bandwagon, I thought it only fair for me to do the same. Given that I am the intentional Queen of Silly, I’ve spent a little while collecting together the most ridiculous and unquestionably some of the most stupid Facebook (vanity) URLs that have been registered since its launch at 5am (BST) on Saturday 12th June 2009.
Here’s the list of the best/worst (depending on how you view it):
Continue reading »Virgin Media Unveil Illegal-Download Busting Subscription Service
June 15, 2009
Easily the biggest problem that the music industry over the last decade has been the exponential growth in the illegal downloading and sharing of music which attracts millions of eager internet users with the offer of free music and practically no chance of being caught/prosecuted.
Not that the music industry hasn’t tried – the corpses of dead attempts litter the musical history books for the last five years – through methods as diverse as tying tracks to credit cards and unpopular as digital rights management (DRM) but as of yet they have been unsuccessful. So step up Virgin Media with their attempt to solve the conundrum.
Continue reading »Facebook Vanity URL Names – A New Land Rush?
June 11, 2009
If you can remember back to the time when everybody used MySpace (yes, it was a while ago…) then you will probably recall that everybody had individual “vanity URLs”, and it was through these that people easily found each other.
However Facebook have finally cottoned on to the fact that it was a good idea and have decided to introduce a username scheme that will not only allow you to have your personalised vanity URL for your Facebook profile, but it will also be used in, according to Facebook, “numerous other ways”.
Continue reading »Spotify Officially Legal
June 8, 2009
In January we brought you news of Spotify; a free and very easy way to stream music straight to your computer using the magical powers contained within the internet. Samknows Broadband queried this idea of this sought after company and has finally come back with the treasure.
It turns out that the ad-based streaming website is officially, and most importantly legally, allowed to operate within the UK, after talks with the Performing Rights Society. It isn’t exactly known how much individual artists receive by users surfing on Spotify, but it’s safe to say that the artists are at least being recognised and rewarded.
Continue reading »
