Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : The *NEW* Frank Coluccio Technology Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (21398)	5/15/2007 10:14:32 PM
From: axial	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 46821

"Should screen-space, browser displays and the specific bandwidth that is used to carry a Web site's content --including the ads that pay its way, be assigned the same level of legal protections as licensed spectrum?" Should licensed users of broadcast spectrum be allowed to use that resource for endless hours of infomercials? For that matter, what about cable? I don't know about the States, but in Canada at application time, many channels make grandiose claims about the content they're going to provide. For a year or two, they deliver. Then they start to slack off. Possibly, they can't find/can't afford new content. But the end result is content that doesn't even approach the quality that the licensor had intended. Theoretically, the internet can allow end-users to exercise choice. Content can be priced so that advertising isn't needed - and many such websites exist. Unfortunately in most of North America, infrastructure has insufficient throughput to equal the broadcast equivalent. The comments from the link imply a contract between the end user and the content provider: you can watch our stuff, but only if you watch our advertisers' message. In fact, no such contract exists. Many advertisers on popular websites are piggybacking for their own gain, as opposed to subsidizing the provider's content, and the real contract is between the provider and the advertiser. With recorded video the provider seeks to ensure the contract is honoured, by baffling technology meant to skip or evade advertising. Advertising is big business, and many have been drawn into the fallacy that viewers or listeners have some kind of obligation to either the advertiser or the provider. Not so. "But what if everyone felt that way?" Then we wouldn't submit to the false notion that advertising is "content", and we'd find a new way to pay for what we want to see and hear. Jim

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (21398)	5/16/2007 12:22:17 PM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Respond to of 46821

Sling Media To Add Upgraded Broadband, Ads 05.16.07 By Reuters, eWEEK [ a virtual button for higher speed? ] pcmag.com NEW YORK (Reuters) - Gadget maker Sling Media, whose device relays home television programs to laptops and cell phones, plans to resell fast Internet service and may start showing ads later this year. The company's Slingbox connects cable and satellite TV set-top boxes to the Internet. As a result, cell phones and other Web-connect devices can show what's on a customer's living room TV. But viewing quality depends on Internet connection strength, and so later this year Sling Media will add a virtual button to its PC and cell phone software that will boost home broadband service speed. Sling Media Chief Executive Blake Krikorian discussed the closely watched technology company's 2007 plans at the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in New York on Tuesday. Since its launch some two years ago, big media companies have eyed Sling warily as companies attempt to forge their own Internet strategies to reach viewers wherever they spend time. Media companies are rolling out limited programming on cell phones, Web sites and Apple Inc.'s iTunes service. Over the past year, traditional media companies and the cable industry have started to warm up to the Allen & Co.-backed company. Top U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp. plans to include Slingboxes in its tests of next generation cable technology this year. "I can't point to you anybody out there that has a real major issue with what we're doing," Krikorian said of media companies. "A year ago ... that wouldn't have been true." Slingboxes costs from $130 to $250 and do not carry subscription fees, unlike wireless carriers that offer clips of TV shows for a fee, split between the wireless carrier and the content company. "Technology is not the thing that is king. Content is not the thing that is king. The consumer is king," Krikorian said. A deal with Boston, Massachusetts-based GetConnected Inc. will let Sling users upgrade their broadband services some time later this year, Krikorian said. GetConnected has relationships with a number of Internet providers, including Comcast and Time Warner Cable Inc. In some respects, the strategy resembles cell phone carriers such as Virgin Mobile USA Inc., a wireless service brand that resells cell phone service over Sprint Nextel Corp.. AD-SLINGER Sling Media also may start showing ads on its service as early as this summer, when its new Clip and Sling service launches. The new service lets its users copy snippets of TV shows and movies and share them over the Internet. CBS Corp. already has begun to test Clip and Sling. Krikorian said Sling was in discussions with media companies to sell ad sponsorship of interactive content, such as basketball game statistics during a live broadcast. Sling would receive a percentage of the ad sales, he said. "What (media companies) are looking for is new (ad) inventory and so in a lot of ways it's going to be opening new opportunities for a lot of these guys," he said. (Additional reporting by Yinka Adegoke) ------

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (21398)	5/24/2007 1:08:31 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 46821

Should screen-space, browser displays and the specific bandwidth that is used to carry a Web site's content --including the ads that pay its way, be assigned the same level of legal protections as licensed spectrum? What type of legal protection is that, and how is it supposed to be applied to the display of web pages? In the article I see site owners complaining about ad blockers, even trying to block them from the site, but I don't see them suing or calling for ad blockers to be banned or regulated.

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (21398)	9/21/2007 6:53:07 PM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Respond to of 46821

Wibiki Adblocker Opens Space for Widgets and Social Networks PR Newswire \| September 21, 2007 [ fac: see my comments at the bottom of this page ] NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Wibiki has launched a free, easy to use server based "adblocker" which users can activate simply by adding a setting in their computers manually or by download at www.wibiki.com. For years, the prime Internet real estate at the top and sides of web pages has belonged to ads. Users had no control over what appeared there. Now, with Wibiki, users can block ads and can choose either replacement content, such as posting boards and free personal widgets, or just leave the space white. "Users can block ads safely with no fancy software and actually use the blocked ad space. I can share my posts with my buddies without having to go to other websites or my email. We have built a Public Timeline Twitter widget as an initial demonstration of what we plan to offer. Our goal is to offer users what they want and help them reduce unnecessary site hopping across the various social networks," said Michael Gill, a software engineer of Wibiki labs. In addition, Wibiki has a block and unblock choice for its users. When in blocked mode, all ads known to the server are not seen by users. When in unblocked mode, users can see a posting "biki" board where they can view recent community posts. A "buddy" board feature allows friends to have a private message board to share their special interest links. "We have discovered new space for users to work with on the Internet. We look forward to working with the advertising community to help reduce "adblindness" which hampers the value proposition for today's online advertisers. At Wibiki, we believe in a simple motto ... the users rule," stated Shant Hovnanian of Wibiki. Wibiki is a subsidiary of Speedus Corp. . For additional information about Wibiki or Speedus Corp., contact Peter Hodge at 888.773.3669 (ext. 23) or phodge@speedus.com or visit www.speedus.com. Statements contained herein that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company's product, corporate identity and focus, may be forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward- looking statements made by the Company, including, but not limited to, the continuing development of the Company's sales, marketing and support efforts. --End Press Release-- [FAC: Several times during the recent past I've posted questions to this forum concerning "screen real estate rights" on individuals' computers and appliances, with a special focus on service providers' and advertisers' et al, collectively, Web publishers', use of ad space, ad insertion techniques, and the ad blocking measures available to end users. See the uplinked story #msg-23541732 , for example, and others that preceded it through searching SI. Disclaimer: I have been familiar with the development of the application discussed in the press release above (Wibiki) for some time, although I haven't in the past, or now, had or have any financial or other interests in it beyond wishing its creators the best of luck moving forward. Comments concerning wibiki and the general area it occupies, including any pro or con implications one might envisage from its use or abuse, are welcome.] ------