28 Jan 10
Futures and Implementation news
January 2010
App market worth £3.7bn this year
Technology analysts Gartner claim the mobile application market is going to explode over the next four years, with the revenue generated from apps downloaded in 2010 reaching £3.7bn worldwide, up from the staggering £2.5bn smartphone users spent in 2009. Gartner predicts revenue from the app market will hit £18bn in 2013, as the number of smartphones rises significantly and users become more accustomed to mobile shopping. 25% of the total app revenue will be derived from advertising rather than customers buying them.
MP3 pioneers launch 'deluxe' file
A new music file format has been unveiled by some of the key figures behind the development of the MP3. The new file, MusicDNA, can include lyrics, videos, artwork and blog posts (which will continually be updated), as well as the music. It will be a competitor to Apple's iTunes LP, which gives users added content, including bonus tracks, lyrics and video interviews. MusicDNA is launching a beta version this spring with a full roll-out at the end of the summer.
Who needs remotes?
Sony’s motion sensor controller for the PlayStation 3 has been delayed from spring until autumn. The delay could prove damaging to Sony. An autumn release will see its motion controller, rumoured to be called the Arc, forced into a head-to-head battle with Microsoft’s own, more advanced, motion sensing hardware, Project Natal. The Xbox 360 device is due to be launched in time for Christmas. Using a camera to track a controller in the player’s hand, Sony’s motion control system is likely to struggle against Microsoft’s Project Natal. The latter removes the need for a hand-held controller, instead using a depth sensor to intricately track the player’s body movements.
Have you seen SeeSaw?
The latest player in the increasingly cluttered VOD market launches on 1st March. Resurrected from the ashes of Project Kangaroo, SeeSaw looks to aggregate the main VOD suppliers in to one “easy-to-use” service. The company is backed by Arqiva, who provide the technical infrastructure to the entire broadcast industry in the UK. So far SeeSaw have video archive from BBC Worldwide, Channel4 and Demand Five. Provided it secures strong content deals with the main suppliers, it will most likely become a VOD heavyweight. Their mid-to long-term objective is to develop a service that will bring this content direct to TV sets.
Live IPL cricket to stream on YouTube
Google has announced a partnership with the Indian Premier League (IPL) to live-stream upcoming cricket matches on YouTube. This is the first time YouTube has delved into the live-streaming of sports. To date most of the site's live shows have been music-based, late last year a U2 concert broadcast live on YouTube was watched by 10m viewers. The IPL coverage of the Twenty20 tournament will start 12th March and run to 25th April. YouTube will have the exclusive online rights to the footage for two years. A company the size of Google challenging the existing broadcast hegemony brings an exciting new dynamic to live sport.
Government to have its own cloud
As more and more organisations are turning to cloud computing for data storage news was released that the government has decided to follow suit. The ‘government cloud’ will save £3.2bn of its annual bill of around £16bn. Data will be stored in a dozen highly secured data centres which are thought to cost £205m each to build. The dozen data centres will replace c.500 units which are used by central government, police forces and local councils. Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook are some big names who are currently using cloud computing.
‘History’ 3D style – Arsenal v Man U
BSkyB is aiming to make history this Sunday (31.01.10) by airing the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester United in 3D. Sky will be showing the special 3D feed of the clash in a handful of pubs across the country, and claims it will be the first transmission of a live 3D TV sports event to a public audience. Sunday's test broadcast comes ahead of a plan to roll out the 3D TV service to thousands of UK pubs that subscribe to Sky TV from April. The pubs have not been named for fear of overcrowding. The broadcaster is estimating that between 450 and 700 viewers will get to see the match in 3D and is confident they will not mind at having to don 3D spectacles to watch the game.
Apple unveils new phone / computer thingy
Sure we don’t need to tell you about that …