Techies Den

Hulu Execs Can’t Agree On Content

When Internet users found out that they could upload and share videos the world began to change. Some focused on making a name for themselves by setting up Youtube channels while others began to upload a backlog of hard to find footage from TV shows that had gone off the air years ago. As these websites began to crackdown on unlicensed content, web surfers then turned to services such as Hulu. All you have to do is suffer through a few minutes of commercials every now and then, but the trade off is the ability to watch want you want when you want to. Unfortunately, it seems like the big shots at Hulu are starting to second guess themselves.

Hulu is owned by the same people that operate NBC, Disney and Fox. This means that Hulu is able to air some of the most popular TV shows and movies and generate ad revenue at an incredibly low cost. Even still, the company seems to think that the general population is actually being exposed to too much content. The idea seems bizarre at best, but perhaps these executives feel that they would be able to sell more box DVD sets if Internet users were not able to pull up their favorite episode of, “Seinfeld,” on a whim. Hulu is seriously considering taking a video on demand approach, which would force surfers to pay to watch movies and TV shows individually. If another company emerges that can simulate Hulu’s earlier structure then that might spell the end of their reign.

Facebook Denies Smart Phone Rumors

For whatever reason, Facebook users and social networking fans have been throwing around rumors of an HTC Facebook smart phone. Once again, Facebook has asserted that they are not developing a smart phone and that they have no plans to make one in the future. While a Facebook smart phone would probably do okay as far as sales go, the fact is that most smart phones are already capable of logging into nearly every social networking website in the world. Besides, Facebook already worked closely with the INQ1, so there would be no need to do again via the Android.

There are plenty of smart phones such as The Torch and the iPhone 4 that have Facebook applications fully integrated in them. What developers at Facebook are working on are new applications and features that will help mobile users to get the full ‘Facebook’ effect while on the go. The Facebook smart phone rumor was traced back to a piece written on CityAM. Since there have been no contacts at Facebook who would confirm the rumors, it is hard to understand how this rumor really got started in the first place.

As new smart phones come on the market manufacturers are working hand and hand with app developers and social networking sites to give users the best mobile experience possible. If Facebook does ever decide to market a smart phone they will need to make sure that users will still be able to access other social networking websites such as Twitter. It may not seem like a big deal considering that nearly everyone on the planet has a Facebook account, but blocking or limiting access to competitors would give other social networking a chance to seize the moment. You can visit http://www.phones4u.co.uk for more information on the Blackberry Torch as well as other smart phones.

Group Chat Software Still A Long Way From Launching Despite Raising $10 Million

GroupMe, a group text messaging software that was first developed in May of last year may change the way that texting is done in the future, but the start-up company still has a lot of work to do. The platform that GroupMe uses is quite simple. A user initiates a group text session by assigning a group of contact a single ‘phone number.’ After the first text is sent, everyone in the group is able to communicate in a manner that is similar to conference calling. As of now, texts can simultaneously be sent to groups of people, but recipients have no way of responding back to everyone within their group. Teens may get a kick out of GroupMe’s groundbreaking technology, but business professionals may find that they are not able to live without it.

Users can access a beta version of the software for free, but the company has just been able to raise $10 million in funding. Unless the creators of GroupMe are somehow able to incorporate advertisements within the software, users will ultimately have to pay a fee to use it. Engineers are still hard at work, making the software more user friendly and eliminating glitches. The company’s founders described fund raising as little more than a nuisance, but having the money to fund a global launch is a necessity. If you would like to try out GroupMe for yourself, you will need to have a cell phone and at least two people on your contact list. After trying out this group text software you might want to find out how you can invest in this start-up company yourself.

Smart Phone App Makes Remote Computing Easy

The smart phone application developer Wyse has made it possible for tech junkies to have access to everything on their desktop computer even when they are miles away from home. Other technological advances such as WiFi and remote access have given travelers the option to access files and programs while on the go, but this app will let users connect to their notebook and desktop computer through wireless access. If you are an iPhone or iPad owner, you may own more Apple products but this app is a great benefit for pc users. Not many programs are pc and Macintosh compatible, and certainly even fewer will allow you to essentially connect both devices.

A free version of the PocketCloud app is available for download, but users will have to purchase the paid version in order to stream videos that are stored on your desktop. This app will definitely come in handy on those days that you forget to email an important files, but a lot of people already keep backup files on their laptops. For the most part, PocketCloud will be used to play videos and songs that users just don’t feel like uploading to other computing devices. Using their smart phone as a hub, this application will save consumers a lot of time because they will no longer need to put multiple copies of files on all of their computers.

Although a lot of people were left wondering why Wyse would offer such a valuable application for free, but the company plans to make money by placing advertisements on the limited free version of the program. Users will either grow tired of viewing the advertisements and purchase the full version of PocketCloud, or they will just want to get access to their songs, videos and other media files.

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Younger Employees Help To Grow Web Based Conferencing

While conference calls may have been first used by elderly executives, so called ‘Generation Y’ has helped to spread the word about the merits of video and web based conferencing. In addition to giving companies a taste of the information age, younger workers in China, Australia and Singapore are coming up with a customer acquisition strategy that involves the Internet. The youngest employees in the workplace are helping their bosses to understand why social networking is important, and how their companies can use it to gain more customers in addition to giving their seal approval on the use of video conferencing. While these employees are not usually the ones making the decisions, their influence is certainly being felt. Because the future of business depends upon these young workers to execute staff with confidence, executives are doing more than taking notes.

As more companies begin to pop up, they will duplicate successful business strategies and incorporate the use of elearning tools to help their workers catch up to their competitors. There will be no easy way for them to win the race, but since smaller workplaces usually have less employees, business owners should definitely listen to their staffs’ ideas.

A recent survey shows that the general public believes that newcomers to the corporate world are the ones with the most innovative ideas. While major corporations are busy blocking access to social networking websites, others are listening to what their employees have to say. Although all companies may not be able to benefit from video conferencing or social networking immensely, they may be able to make enough of an improvement to save some money. As more of these young workers continue to begin their tenure at major corporations, they will continue to be the first ones to come up with the most cutting edge ideas.

Technology Innovations Help US Courts To Cut Budget

Even though most court only operate during strict business hours, low cash flow levels have forced the Kandiyohi County court system to turn to technology used in off hours to keep their docket from overflowing. Traffic courts and stenographers in Kandiyohi County, South Carolina, are using technology to help both officials and citizens to fulfill their needs in an unorthodox way. For the most part, traffic court takes place over the Internet or phone there. If a driver is cited for unsafe driving practices, instead of using in-house resources, the courts in Kandiyhoi county are using third party vendors to process payments. Even jury pre-selection is done online, as citizens are prompted to use a government sponsored website to answer questions. The fact of the matter is, the economy tanked and court systems around the US simply don’t have the resources to keep full-time employees on the books anymore.

As courtrooms struggle to keep things running smoothly, the penal system also faces overcrowding. As a result, more criminals are receiving lenient sentences or are able to avoid incarceration altogether. Of course, those convicted of serious crimes in the US are also subject to steep fines, which is another measure that may help to pump more resources into the failing criminal justice system instead of exhausting them. More courts around the nation are expected to follow this trend of using technology in the place of judges, but it is not without its flaws. Sometimes, glitches can cause those who owe fines to slip into the cracks, but statics show that human error also leads to these sort of situations.

France Puts Renewable Energy Plans On Hold

Many residents and solar energy companies in France were disappointed to learn that a mandatory halt on installations was put in place. Although the announcement definitely was bad news for those looking to have their homes outfitted with solar panels, the new regulations put in place can actually save them money. French officials have been closely examining the steep rise of solar megawatt usage from 2009 to 2010, and regulators simply cannot see how the industry will survive if it continues at the same pace. As of now, solar installation companies will have to stop work on residences and private run businesses. Members of the solar energy industry have argued with officials, and demanded that the mandatory halt be cut in half. They contend that large amounts of money will be lost and workers will be without work if the extreme measure lasts for four months.

As more and more countries jump on the solar energy bandwagon, France shows that too much of a good thing can be bad, even if it is good for the environment. While everyone wants to cut their energy bill, utility companies will not be able to stay in business if they end up paying consumers for the renewable energy that is sold back to them instead of selling electricity. Perhaps it is time for utility companies to look into solar lease programs that will enable them to research the merits of switch over to a completely solar powered energy grid. For whatever reason, utility companies that use coal, gas and oil fueled power grids have been resistant to the idea of using solar energy instead. There may be strict contracts and other details that the public at large is not privy to, but as residences continue to turn to solar energy, it will be an uphill company for utility companies.

Major Rental Car Company To Add First Smart Cars

Hertz won’t be renting the Fortwo to consumers right away, but rider in the NYC metropolitan area will be able to commute with a friend to work in a more comfortable and cost effective fashion. In an effort to promote their new ‘Connect’ program, Hertz will be rolling out the electric cars. Although the cars only seat two people, NYC commuters will be happy to ditch the subway and buses in favor of riding to work in a car. Hertz hopes that the measure will help to improve drivers safety and energy conservation among those that participate in carpools. They also hope to introduce the Fortwo to the carpool communities of California and Washington D.C. at a later date.

In a measure to promote fleet safety, Hertz believes that the small size of the electric cars will help to unclog congested roadways and get more people to carpool. The company plans to add the Fortwo to their roster of rentals, largely depending on how well they are received by carpoolers. Representatives from Smart USA, an agency that supports the use of smart cars in the US, hopes that Hertz’s initiative will give consumers easier access to smart cars, which will allow them to see how much of an asset they can be. While the cost of a brand new smart car is comparable to that of a standard vehicle, they are more energy efficient. At the same time, many consumers are not always excited about the lack of ‘get-up’ that comes with cars that are powered by electricity.

Professional Hockey Team Initiates ‘Technology Recycling Day’

In an effort to raise awareness about problems that technological products pose to the environment, The Buffalo Sabres hockey team will be sponsoring ‘Technology Recycling Day’ at the HSBC Arena, in Buffalo, New York on December 6th. The Sabres are encouraging all of their fans to begin similar efforts during the rest of the year, but Technology Recycling Day will be used as the model to show everyone how easy it can be. All participants will receive coupons to be used at the Sabres official store, and Buffalo residents unable to attend can call a specified number to schedule a pick-up. Spare computer parts, broken cell phones, outdated computer hardware, old fax machines and printers and just about anything with a computerized component will be recycled and reused. The Sabres state that proceeds from the event will be used for their ‘Green Team’ Foundation.

Computer parts and other technological devices sit in landfills, taking up valuable space when they could easily be recycled and reused if people would take they to the proper venues. Some of the dangerous chemicals that sit inside of monitors can also be very hazard if they seep out. While consumers are more likely to hang onto old computer parts now than in previous years, when they ultimately get rid of them, the parts still are destined for the dump. While traditional recycling facilities are not usually equipped to handle used computer parts, a quick Internet search will tell you where you can go to drops yours off at.

Playstation Mobile Phone May Indeed Be on Way From Sony

There is some exciting news for video game lovers and mobile phone fans alike coming from Sony as it appears that the game giant has finally let sleep that it will definitely be making a new handset that is going to combine the power of a mobile phone along with the gaming prowess of the PlayStation Portable, also known as the PSP. There are a number of new things coming out now for the mobile phone market and with so many cheap mobile phone deals on the market right now, no one is quite sure whether or the device will sell like hot cakes or flop, but either way consumer excitement is indeed heavy.

According to the leaked information, which included a photo of the phone which is said to be a Sony branded Ericsson mobile phone, the new device will have a lot to offer. It is said to be capable of running a brand new version of the Android operating system put out by Google that is set to be called Gingerbread. It will also feature something called the Sony Market Place which will be a feature that allows users to download games which were designed to be played on this new phone.

Experts are now certain as to whether the new device will be launched soon, but it appears that the announcement for it could be made in February of 2011 at the Mobile World Congress event. There, it is expected that Sony will be announcing a launch either in the summer or fall of 2011. If this turns out to be true, the new game phone should be available on sites like www.dialaphone.co.uk as soon as the end of next year, if not sooner, according to analysts in the mobile phone industry. If it takes off, experts say to expect more such devices to follow shortly thereafter.