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Monday, July 28, 2008

MediaCorp RAWclipx Beta Launch

MediaCorp RAWclipxFinally, MediaCorp RAWclipx moved into public Beta testing on podcast.sg. RAWclipx is a new online service to showcase never-before-seen videos of Singapore celebrities like Fiona Xie and Joanne Peh. RAWclipx is powered by ASP.NET 2.0, SQL Server 2005 database and Silverlight 1.1 for rich media streaming experience. RAWclipx is utilizing the User Generated Content (UGC) platform which is the same as the one being used in several other MediaCorp TV microsites such as SuperMummy, BeatBox 2007, Campus Yummy Hunt, SuperBand, The Showdown and so on. RAWclipx is developed by the web team in MediaCorp Pte Ltd (formerly known as MediaCorp Technologies). With just only 2 front-end developers, 2 back-end CMS developers and a web designer, it took them just less than 2 months to turn the idea to a real service. Congrats and good job to my fellow co-workers there. I am really proud of the team there.

This site unique feature is those videos can be downloaded to mobile devices. This site provide three different video download formats. Furthermore, this
service allow members of the public to upload their videos. For your information, MediaCorp will upload up to 15 new videos on this site every week.

Here is an excerpt from the official media release issued by MediaCorp Corporate Communications:
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Caldecott Broadcast Centre? Where do you go for downloads of cool clips, or to upload your own to share with other Singaporeans?

Well, look no further than RAWclipx on podcast.sg which will be launched on July 28th to feature a smorgasbord of video offerings.

RAWclipx on podcast.sg will feature juicy off-air content, backed by MediaCorp’s immense star and media power.

Here’s a sampling of offerings:
i. Photo shoot images from MediaCorp’s wide variety of magazines
ii. Your favourite radio DJs in their studios and celebrity interviews
iii. Out-takes from your favourite TV shows
iv. Newscasters and reporters off camera
v. Unreleased footage of exclusive events such as the FHM Girl Next Door party

“We will have our own paparazzi; a spycam roving reporter sussing out what happens in between takes; what the stars wear and don’t wear; what they do; all the saucy details never before seen or heard,” said Timothy Goh, Vice President New Media Business and Customer Relationship Management.

The content will be refreshed every week and it promises surprises and the unexpected. But that is not all. Everyone can be part of the action and upload their “Aha” moments onto RAWclipx on podcast.sg.

"We embrace user generated content and want as many people as possible to upload and share...your fun, wacky moments... your singing debut...your school concert; upload and be part of this new exciting community” added Timothy Goh.

RAWclipx on podcast.sg will be different from most other UGC sites in that it allows for easy downloads onto mobile devices. It also offers RSS feeds and enables the public to comment on, and forward the clips. more.
In my own opinion, this is going to change the game in Singapore media scene forever. Forget about the Odex case. Check out why by referring to an analysis done by HubPages "Downloading unedited RAW videos in Singapore".

Sunday, July 27, 2008

First Facebook User Fined for Creating Fake Profile

The Financial Times reported that “a British businessman has been awarded £22,000 in damages from a former school friend who created a fake profile of him on the website.”

It is very common to see user creating fake profiles of other people on Facebook since the platform is open out to public four years ago. From now on, users may want to think twice before doing so as this could result in a large fine.

Singapore Announces Ported Creative Commons Licenses

Excerpt from the official press release, slated for July 27, 2008 release:

San Francisco, CA, USA and Singapore City, Singapore — July 27, 2008

Today Creative Commons Singapore announces the completion of the locally ported Creative Commons licensing suite. In close collaboration with Centre for Asia Pacific Technology Law & Policy (CAPTEL), the Creative Commons team in Singapore, led by Associate Professor Samtani Anil and Assistant Professor Giorgos Cheliotis, adapted the licenses both linguistically and legally to Singaporean national law. The Creative Commons licenses, now ported to 47 jurisdictions, enable authors, artists, scientists, and educators the choice of a flexible range of protections and freedoms in efforts to promote a voluntary “some rights reserved” approach to copyright.

The Singaporean Creative Commons licenses, available soon online, will be celebrated today in Singapore City at the International Symposium on Electronic Art. The event will also feature a panel, organized by CAPTEL and Creative Commons Singapore, to introduce the audience to key copyright issues in the digital age and also share tips for creators and users to avoid common pitfalls in the field of copyright law.

The panel will, in addition, explain the aims and philosophy of the Creative Commons initiative and the specific nature and uses of the Creative Commons licensing suite in Singapore. Stanford law professor and Creative Commons founder Lawrence Lessig will address the audience to commemorate the completion of the licenses.

Following the event, the CC Singapore team hopes to initiate a series of educational talks to explain the philosophy of Creative Commons and the practical ways in which users can implement the licenses.

Project Lead Samtani Anil adds, “We also believe the launch of the Singapore CC licenses will lead to a better appreciation of the ambit, contours, and limits of the existing copyright regime in Singapore in relation to the sharing and dissemination of culture and the advancement of innovation. This, we believe, will sensitize various stakeholders to the avenues that are open to them to share their works in accordance with their wishes and needs.”

The CC Singapore team is supported by team members Assistant Professor Warren Chik, Vinod Sabnani, Tham Kok Leong, Lam Chung Nian, Harish Pillay and Ankit Guglani.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Facebook is rolling out the new profile design

According to the Facebook Developers blog, this week, Facebook will begin rolling out the new profile design to users on an opt-in basis. Every user may not see it at first, but they’ll keep extending the rollout to more users.

All Facebook apps developers should update their applications, and have them ready before the preview launch, because users will want to see the application within their new profile experience.

Facebook currently plan to launch the new design to all users one to two weeks after the rollout begins. Facebook will give developers at least 24 hours notice before the final switch occurs.

To get a quick-look at the new layout, log in to your page and then go to http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php. Not only does it look different, it also works differently. Check out this post on how Facebook's platform changes will affect you.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Nice Short Film: Comptine d'un autre été L'après midi

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Google's Second Life killer?

Google has BETA launched a new service today called Lively, a browser based virtual world add-on that lets users create and customize avatars and worlds, interact with other users, and generally have a richer social interaction than is offered by GTalk.

This isn’t yet a full Second Life competitor. There’s no single world, for example, where users can move around. But it’s easy to see Google evolving this into a single online world. And then, of course, selling advertising into it.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Xcerion Internet OS/3 (XIOS/3)

This is one of the possible model of web based desktop/OS derived from cloud/utility computing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) concepts.

Xcerion called it the world's next free operating system! The video is a demo of new revolutionary collaborative Internet operating system that is delivered as a free service over Internet, capable of synchronizing data between different clients and building real applications in a web browser that works on- and offline. Using XIOS/3 applications can be built in XML in weeks instead of years compared to traditional desktop technologies. Limited beta program started on 30th September 2007. Cool marketplace for finding and publishing applications will follow as well as many applications. See http://xcerion.com for more information and signing up for a beta account. Xcerion slogan is "Software should be free".

This is really cool technology which I think it could be the next big thing in the market.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Metal Gear Solid Theme - Eminence Orchestra

This is intense! They turned an amazing techno/military style song into an equally amazing epic orchestra performance with a chorus 2 boot. Hail to this performance.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Crude Oil Price Up Again?

Is this a matter of market pundits selling US dollars to buy oil to hedge risks?

At last check, crude for July delivery traded as high as $139.12 a barrel in electronic trading on Globex Friday (US time), the highest intraday price for a front-month futures contract on record.

Contributing factors: Talks about a potential Israeli attack on Iran combined with a slide in the U.S. dollar.

And here's how Abdullah will handle the oil problems in the country, the so-called 4 Quick Fix..

BY THE WAY... TV Smith has a friend who points to MakeMoney.com that makes the rebates-by-engine-cc scheme so sweet.

15 ways to reduce fuel spendings

BY THE WAY... Are biofuels, like corn-based ethanol, new villains that drive food prices up and exacerbate world food shortages? Food for thought.

BY THE WAY... Spiralling fuel cost hikes are plunging airlines into a tailspin. Route cuts, aircraft redundancy and job losses are imminent.

BY THE WAY... In the East, Qantas says sayonara to Melbourne-Tokyo route.

BY THE WAY... Budget carrier Jetstar will end its service from Cairns to Osaka and Nagoya.

BY THE WAY... In the West, Continental Airlines is to shrink to survive record fuel prices.

BY THE WAY... After the kneejerk responses -- and the temporary blip -- how are Malaysians back home reacting to and coping with the latest fuel hikes?

BY THE WAY... The Abdullah Administration is launched into damage control mode, trying to justify why the fuel price should be immediate and not psyche-prepared for August as hyped previously.

BY THE WAY... Inflation, stagflation, then global recession? Not really in that particular order nowadays.

BY THE WAY... Here's a survival kit from TV Smith... of course your driving habits will end with differing mileage.

BY THE WAY BY THE WAY... New iPhone will launch in Singapore partnered with Singtel. The Real Cost of the iPhone 3G according to Singtel http://tinyurl.com/6y844l