Internet getting close to becoming ‘most essential’ medium in American life

[According] to a new report by Edison Media Research. Consumers age 12 and older were asked to choose the “most essential” medium in their life; 33 percent chose the Internet, just behind television (36 percent), but above radio (17 percent) and newspapers (10 percent). In 2002, the Internet trailed TV on this perception by a significant margin (20 percent verses 39 percent), and also trailed radio’s 26 percent.

In the study, newspapers were named as “least essential” medium by 35 percent, followed by the Internet at 24 percent (it was most mentioned in 2002 at 33 percent), and both radio and television had the fewest mentions at 18 percent. The Internet and television have swapped places in the last half-decade as “Most cool and exciting” medium. The Internet is mentioned by 38 percent for this perception in 2007 (verses 25 percent in 2002); 35 percent now say television is “most cool and exciting” (verses 48 percent in 2002).

“It is not a stretch to say that the Internet has become just as important as television as a primary source of information and entertainment in the lives of Americans,” says Larry Rosin, president, Edison Media Research. “It is entirely possible that the Internet will lead in all positive categories five years from now.”

Internet getting close to becoming ‘most essential’ medium in American life

Real Life or second Life

Check-out this real life enactment of Second Life. It's really funny ;)

"Your Truman Show" brings your story to the web

Your Truman Show, Inc. today launched the beta version of its online broadcast network dedicated to publishing, rating and reviewing the drama and comedy of personal video stories. YourTrumanShow.com combines on one platform the power of personal blogging, user-generated video and social networking.

Your Truman Show brings your story to the web | via Scobleizer.com

Spout.com presents first full length feature film on YouTube

Apparently, this is the first feature length film to run on YouTube; worth a look.

We are exceptionally pleased at Spout to be presenting the first feature length film to run on YouTube: Four Eyed Monsters. Check out our official press release here and read about our promotion with the makers of this film, Arin Crumley and Susan Buice. If you are interested in a little history about this film, check out their video-podcast about making it and trying to get distribution...all 8 episodes. And, if you haven't signed up on Spout yet, go here immediately: http://www.spout.com/foureyedmonsters.

Spout.com presents first full length feature film on YouTube

The Twitterization of Blogs

Learn how blogs are changing due to the Twitter/mobile blogging phenomenon of "less is more."

Most bloggers prefer mundane tidbits to deep thoughts, and backed by voice transcription and video sharing, the cell phone may soon be the tool of choice...

The Twitterization of Blogs

Lessons from the Amp'd bankruptcy

The blogosphere's been abuzz about Amp'd Mobile's Chapter 11 filing in the wake of a 'liquidity crisis'. GigaOM cited a company statement blaming inadequate systems:

"As a result of our rapid growth, our back-end infrastructure was unable to keep up with customer demand."

But Om and others rightly note the more critical factor here is that Amp'd has had a devil of a time collecting from its customers, with 40% of its 200,000 subscribers owing Amp'd money -- cash it desperately needed to fund marketing and operations.

There's a lesson here for managers suffering from a tunnel-vision obsession with top-line revenue growth: while inadequate infrastructure can hobble a business; an inadequate balance sheet can bring it to its knees (and crawling into bankruptcy court). It's nearly impossible to grow your way out of that kind of trouble.

It's also important to note that privately-held Amp'd has filed for Chapter 11 (reorganization), not Chapter 7 (liquidation), meaning that (at least for now) they ostensibly intend to eventually re-emerge as a viable business. But as the Business Week story points out, another potential outcome is that one of its major creditors (Verizon seems a likely suitor) will end up getting the whole company on the cheap. That's a high price to pay for growth.

O'Reilly Radar > Lessons from the Amp'd bankruptcy

VideoNewsLive - Your Daily Video News Community

Join the new social community that gives you daily updates on video news across the web. You can discover new content by simply joining the social network, each day new content news will be delivered to you. The sources come from over 35 unique providers across the net, or, alternatively you can suggest a new video news provider. The community is enabled to submit video news links, and upload their own videos. You can create a dialouge with your peers by rating and commenting upon the videos you view. If your personal hero is Ron Burgundy, you too can upload your own video news and submit it to the site. You, too, could be kind of a big deal.

In their own words:

Videonewslive.com is a user driven social community site, with a community of users who enjoy daily video news currently from over 35 different providers. The user community can participate by suggesting a new video news provider, submitting video news links, and uploading videos.

VideoNewsLive - Your Daily Video News Community [via Robert Scoble's shared feeds on Google reader]

Photobucket to become part of MySpace

A Web site that enables its users to store photos and video for inclusion in MySpace profiles will become a part of the popular online hangout.

MySpace's parent, News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media, agreed to acquire Photobucket Inc. just weeks after a public spat in which MySpace partially blocked content from Photobucket. The block was mysteriously lifted after about two weeks, but both sides had been silent on the details of their peacemaking.

Fox also agreed separately to buy Flektor Inc., which offers Web-based tools for creating slideshows, video mash-ups and other interactive presentations.

Photobucket to become part of MySpace - Yahoo! News

Why Ustream will change mainstream

Like most enduring ideas, the Ustream concept is just plain simple. Ustream allows just about anyone to broadcast live video over the Internet and interact in near realtime with connected viewers using chat.

Global Neighbourhoods: Why Ustream will change mainstream

MySpace to launch online TV channels

Popular Internet social network MySpace said it planned to launch online television channels from news and entertainment networks that include The New York Times Co., Reuters and National Geographic.

The new channels will also include programming from 'lifestyle' media companies that will offer animation, night life, video game shows and music.

MySpace to launch online TV channels - Yahoo! News

Web Site Traffic: Google upgrades Analytics

"Google's overhauled the reporting interface ('dashboard') in their web site stats program, Analytics.

The new look is a lot easier on the eyes and the brain."

Web Site Traffic: Google upgrades Analytics (via: Lifehacker)

Bring Your A-game to Write for Blogs

Good set of basic rules for any blogger. Read on...

"If you’re a freelance writer who’s written for newspapers and magazines, or an English or communications major who’s an old pro at writing papers, or even just someone who’s always written well, you might think your talent will translate directly into awesome blog writing.

You’d only be half right.

As a freelance journalist (for the past 15+ years), I’ve discovered that writing for blogs is a bit different (sometimes quite a bit different) than writing for other mediums, and understanding those differences can help you write amazing blog posts and get a ton of readers. Be a blog writer, not just a writer, and you’ll find success in this new medium."

Bring Your A-game to Write for Blogs

MySpace to acquire Photobucket

MySpace, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., has reached a preliminary deal to acquire Photobucket, the world's top photo-sharing site, for around $250 million in cash...

MySpace to acquire Photobucket: source - Yahoo! News

Bring Your A-game to Write for Blogs

"If you’re a freelance writer who’s written for newspapers and magazines, or an English or communications major who’s an old pro at writing papers, or even just someone who’s always written well, you might think your talent will translate directly into awesome blog writing.

You’d only be half right.

As a freelance journalist (for the past 15+ years), I’ve discovered that writing for blogs is a bit different (sometimes quite a bit different) than writing for other mediums, and understanding those differences can help you write amazing blog posts and get a ton of readers. Be a blog writer, not just a writer, and you’ll find success in this new medium."

» Bring Your A-game to Write for Blogs

Broadcast live events with Ustream.tv

Ustream.tv lets you broadcast any live event over the web using nothing more than a webcam.

You could use this free service to broadcast your band's concert, your high school's football game, your company's training session or just about anything else. All you need is a Ustream.tv account, a video camera (either a webcam or a camcorder that has webcam capabilities) and a broadband Internet connection (cellular modem cards are recommended for on-the-run notebook users).

You can schedule events, send out invites and archive broadcasts for later viewing. It's a pretty amazing service, though the Ustream.tv site doesn't do a particularly good job of explaining its features, nor does it offer much in the way of help. Still, this definitely has the makings of a Next Big Thing. What kinds of events would you broadcast?

Broadcast live events with Ustream.tv - Lifehacker

PublicSquare: Painless Publishing

PublicSquare makes publishing easy. Stop wasting time on the mechanics, and spend your time on the stories and the people.

PublicSquare: Painless Publishing

Podcasting: Believe The Hype

[Like] blogging... podcasting is a relatively easy way to increase consumer awareness and create an open dialogue between your customer and your brand, ultimately creating loyalty...

Customers can also subscribe to your podcast, so that each time you produce a new show, they will automatically receive it. Much as a webinar can do (but without needing to be live), podcasts can reach your target market with regularly scheduled relevant messages and information about an issue, your industry, and your business.

Podcasting: Believe The Hype

Success With Search Engines

What if you had a Web site and no one came?

Success With Search Engines

Business Blogging

Your small business can benefit from using blogs to raise awareness, increase customer loaylty, and boost sales.

Business Blogging

PAH-FEST

PAH-FEST, which stands for “PROJECT ACCESSIBLE HOLLYWOOD,” is a new kind of digital media festival that celebrates the stories and voices of everyday people. PAH-Fest invites people from all walks of life to tell their digital stories using today’s latest technology and pro-sumer equipment. All movies created during the festival are available in the Online Theater.

PAH-FEST