Tuesday 30 June 2009

Microsoft Live Case Study

Microsft owns Microsoft Live and MSN. They own Windows Live, Microsoft Office Live, Xbox Live, they contain many windows live services. Microsoft's market value are currently worth roughly $553 billion, holding roughly 785 million Microsoft shares. In 2008, revenue was $60 billion.

Key Facts:
1. In the computer software and consumer electronics.
2. Microsoft Live has a gaming service, Xbox Live.
3. Institution was founded on April 4 1975.
4. Operating income in 2008 was $22.5 billion.
5. Founder of Microsoft is Bill Gates.

1.One commentator notes that Microsoft's original mission was "a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software."

2.“ Large media corporations (including the movie companies and record companies), together with computer companies such as Microsoft and Intel, are planning to make your computer obey them instead of you.”

3.Microsoft said that Windows Live "is a way to extend the Windows user experience".

The key info provided on the website are: -- * Popular Downloads
* Top Searches
* Frequent Destinations
* Latest Releases
* Windows Live Programmes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft

Throughout its history the company has been the target of criticism, including monopolistic business practices and anti-competitive strategies including refusal to deal and tying. The U.S. Justice Department and the European Commission, among others, have ruled against Microsoft for various antitrust violations.

Microsoft Past: Bill Gates created the microsoft computer in 1975. On November 20, 1985, Microsoft released its first retail version of Microsoft Windows. On March 13, 1986 the company went public with an initial public offering (IPO), with a starting initial offering price of $21.00 and ending at the first day of trading as at US $28.00.

Microsoft Now: On June 27, 2008, Bill Gates retired from day-to day activities in the company, following a two year transition period from his role as Chief Software Architect, which was taken by Ray Ozzie, but remained the company's chairman, head of the Board of Directors and would act as an adviser on key projects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft

They'vs had many criticisms for their products such as Windows 7,vista, XP, 2000, Me ,9X, oFFICE AND xBOX 360.

Criticism of Microsoft has followed various aspects of its products and business practices. Issues with ease of use, stability, and security of the company's software are common targets for critics. In the 2000s, a number of malware attacks have targeted security flaws in Microsoft Windows and other programs. Microsoft is also accused of locking vendors and consumers into their products, and of not following and complying with existing standards in its software.

The company has been in numerous lawsuits by several governments and other companies for unlawful monopolistic practices. In 2004, the European Union found Microsoft guilty in the European Union Microsoft competition case. Additionally, Microsoft's EULA for some of its programs is often criticized as being too restrictive.

S E L F -------------- 3 V a L U 4 T I O N

Aesthetics: Level 1: Bland and wasn't really appealing as there wasn't much colour variety.

Creativity: Level 1 : Not much creativity to it, could've done more to it. Was a simple video.

Technology: Level 2 : Contained sound originally but got taken out, produced using movie maker.

Understanding: Level 3 : Showed a substantial amount of understanding though not fully realised information was provided, but nevertheless contained essential information

Production Values: Level 1 : Not much used just a simple video production produced on movie maker with a soundtrack implemented into the video. could've used more to the video production.

WWW: Contained the relevant information needed for the task
EBI: The visual aspect of the video left a lot to be desired.

comparing 5 "best" videos

1.

This is a well produced video which is very informative.

2.

Intresting video with...intresting music.

3.

A well produced video. Decent production values.

4.

...Epic...

5.

Very Informative, felt like I learnt something.

Monday 22 June 2009

Television user and Internet

An audience are a group of individuals who consume media content. There are different types of audiences, in this case a TV consumer and an Internet user. Both types of audiences consume the media, however they're both done differently. Tv is consumed passively by the user however the internet isn't consumed passively. The internet infact is very actively used as there are numerous ways in which the internet can be consumed. It has different ways to communicate with different people from across the globe. In a nutshell it is a many - to - many communication. but also you can have a one - to - one and one - to - many communications especially from social networking sites such as Facebook.

In this context of being active by consuming the media, people can view other user created content and can in adittion comment and rate on the content, they themselves can make user created content to share with the world if they choose, in this context the internet isn't consumed like television is, it's more active. Television only really lets people view the content, however with the installment of Interactive television, the viewer can interact with what's being promoted, e.g. a car commercial may let people enter a competition of winnning one.

Therefore the internet is more active than the television is currently now.

Friday 19 June 2009

- DIGITAL BRITAIN -

Digital Britain: ISPs will have to cut filesharing by 70% under new proposals
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jun/16/filesharing-digital-britain
• British ISPs will be required to cut illegal filesharing on their networks by 70% within a year under new powers set to be given to the communications regulator Ofcom.
• Persistent offenders could see their details passed on to rights-holders – mainly music and film companies, but also games and software companies – which could sue them in court.
• In extreme cases, such offenders could also see bans on access to certain sites, and a decrease of their internet speed and capacity.
• It could take some time for the proposals to be implemented. There will first be a consultation before it becomes law, after which Ofcom will have responsibility for reducing piracy.
• Some groups, such as UK Music, believe that this particular proposal will not achieve the desired reduction of 70%.


Landline users to pay £6 tax to fund broadband

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jun/16/digital-britain-landline-users-broadband-tax

• Fixed-line telephone users will pay £6 a year to fund superfast broadband across the country.
• A 50p a month tax on every copper telephone line will help pay for next-generation broadband for 90% of the population.
• The government wanted to break the BBC's monopoly on the licence fee and use the £200m that is leftover from the license fee to fund the next generation of broadband.
• The government wants everybody in Britain to have at least 2 megabytes of broadband by 2012.
• A fraction of the license fee digital switchover surplus would fund three ITV regional news pilots in Scotland, Wales and one English region between now and 2013.


Digital Britain winners and losers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jun/16/digital-britain-winners-losers

• A big loser of the Digital Britain report is the PBS, the BBC.
• The Government is planning to use money that was originally used for the BBC and divert some of the money towards other things such as Broadband and other television networks.
• Ofcom has gained significantly from the digital Britiain report, every two years they’ll be reviewing the whole communications industry, regulating file-sharing and regulating mergers.
• This brings Ofcom in a powerful position in having more authority than the BBC and everyone else.
• Local news organisations will also benefit from the government , an idea that has proved controversial in some quarters – largely local newspaper groups that have benefited from margins for many years and now see no way out but even more mergers – but the funds will be there if they are willing to take them.