29 Oct 10

The Edit

Last month's summary from our Futures and Implementations Team.

Google TV stumbles on to the US TV landscape
The much hyped Google TV box has launched this month in the US with a somewhat muted reception. It appears several studios and content providers (ABC, CBS, NBC and even Hulu) have barred access to their video through Google TV until a mutually beneficial revenue structure has been agreed. This means shows like Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, and Desperate Housewives are conspicuous by their absence on the platform. ISPs are also campaigning for a share of revenue. There is no doubt that web-streamed content to TV’s is here to stay. Netflix in the US accounts for 20% of all video download traffic. Our Google contacts have the UK launch penciled in for late H1 2011. History tells us that despite sometimes missing a few first hurdles, Google will prevail at all costs.

Facebook slaps a ban on over-eager mums
Next time you go to update your Facebook status, stop, pause and count how many times you have done that today. A mum who posted ‘very’ regular messages (35-40 messages in a space of 1.5-2hrs) on a Facebook young mothers group had her account blocked for 24hours, because her frequent messaging was seen as ‘abusive or spammy’.

Google with the wind
Google have invested in a green energy project that can deliver 6000 megawatts of power, generated by ocean based wind turbines, to approximately 1.9M homes. When two Google searches can generate about the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle, it is no surprise that they are investing in renewable energy!

Apple have $51bn in the bank but aren’t buying Sony… and here are 5 other things they could buy, but wont (from Forbes.com):
-  Twenty-one B-2 bombers ($44.8 billion)
Stealth bombers could make sure goods shipped from Chinese factories are safe from pirates.
-  Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, & Pizza Hut ($23.4 billion)
The handheld digital media player market is saturated. Maybe that’s because Apple’s handhelds aren’t edible. Taco Bell doesn’t have that problem.
-  Everything Intel will make this year ($43.5 billion)
This could cause problems for Apple rivals Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Acer, who use Intel’s chips, too.
-  The gross domestic product of Lebanon ($48.5 billion)
Lebanon is cool. Apple is cool. Synergy!
-  Ford Motor Company ($48.7 billion)
Apple chief industrial designer Jonathan Ive should design cars. Preferably all of them. Everything built by Ford would be a start.