[7] Vlog - YouTube

YouTube was created with the intention of being a video sharing website with easy access and free for the world to upload, view and share clips. There is an opportunity to get the clips rated and a tracked to know how poplar it has been. YouTube allows the upload of television programmes, music videos, movies, and a more personal aspect relating to the audience like ‘video-blogging’ and ‘home videos’. The site is extremely interactive and very ‘user-friendly’ and open to all on a global scale.

It is possible to register and have an YouTube account in which you are able to upload videos and share interests alongside reading responses. You can interact with other users by viewing and commenting on their videos. However, if you don’t want to register, you can still view most videos, making it a win-win situation for all.

The popularity has been massive and people have become well known as a ‘youtuber’ and almost an internet ‘celebrity’. As it is worldwide, people get the chance to look at people form different countries and experience their lifestyles and gain publicity which will determine potential success. This has worked in the favour of bands and singers as YouTube has become a promotion method and also proved to be useful for uprising stars. You can if people like you and follow the journey (slightly like a blog) as they become stars.

YouTube is particularly popular within the teenage generation but appeals to everyone, worldwide as it is easy to use and accessible. All software is compatible and can be used to create and view vlogs, giving the opportunity to present their ideas, thoughts and achievements alongside their interests. The audience is converging the media and giving interactivity as not only are they creating it, they are consuming it simultaneously.

For YouTube as a company, it provides a search engine for something new and easy. It reaches a worldwide population and gets a lot of users all round the clock. The content is easy to use and interactive, making the website very audience based, as without them, the site would not be alive.

[13] NMT and Consumption - Limewire

LimeWire is a downloading programme which exploits the system of downloading as its all done free. LimeWire is a file sharing program running on the Gnutella Network. It is open standard software running on an open protocol, free for the public to use. LimeWire allows you to share any file such as .mp3s, .avis, .jpgs, .tiffs, etc. Limewire is written in Java, and will run on Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Sun, and other computing platforms. Publish your original content to the world without setting up a website! The software has a very large global reach giving an increasingly larger number of files to share on the network.

The main audience is the younger generation as its main purpose is music and videos and they are the people that generally would be able to use it. Limewire replaces the physical forms of sharing items but now is available for all. There are no restrictions to what can be shared and therefore this can be abused and everyone on the network is able to take what they want as they want it. The broadband speed, as expected plays a part in this as they faster the speed the faster the download speed.

There is a lot of legal debate about this issue as it breaches the rules of copyright, exchanging music for no money and therefore Limewire has been under a lot of pressure to close down at the risk of being sued.

It is global and reaches a lot of people al over the world and is distribution and integration.

[14] NMT - Playstation 3

A newly realised piece of media technology is the awaited playstation 3. It was invented to be an updated version and to replace the playstation 2. its purpose as a games console but has now developed into television, computer and HD technology.

The PS3 is the third in the range produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and released in Europe on March 23rd. The hype around this piece of equipment was huge as the memory had increased, two forms could be bought – 20GB and 60GB. The advanced new games would be saved onto memory that now is not visible, making the 60GB more popular. The attractive feature of the PS3 is that all PS1 and PS2 games will work on it, this is a feature that will remain very desirable for all consumers as all previously owned games know will continue to be of use.
The features that know differ from a PS2 or older console are:

· Next Generation Cell Processor
· HDMI output
· Includes: Memory Stick/SD/Compact Flash Slots
· Wireless
· Ethernet Connection
· Wireless Bluetooth Controller
· Blu-ray drive
· USB keyboards and mice
· Stream audio and video
· 4 USB 2.0 ports
· Compatibility PS1 and PS2 games
· Virtual Memory card

The dimensions are 325mm x 98mm x 274mm. Weight is 5kg.

The huge amount of data storage offered by Blu-ray makes it ideal for High Definition. The ability to access more data shows the development in technology. PS3 can now store music, pictures, videos and other data files. The ability to connect to the net means that you can play against other players online. High processing power means that the quality overall is better. Convergence of HD, Computer storage and internet shows that the console can now cater to many needs eliminating the need for other technologies.

[12] Converged, Portable Technology - W810i

An example of a converged portable piece of technology is a mobile phone. This displays the features of convergence (bringing together lots of media technology) and is lightweight and miniature for everyday use.

The phone I have chosen to discuss is a Sony Ericsson W810i which incorporates a camera, mp3 player, video recorder, voice recorder, an internet surfer, a games console (to an extent) all alongside its sole purpose of communication. As mobile phones develop, the technology develops alongside and quality of technology is improving massively.

The W810i is advertised as a walkman phone, so its converging the features of an mp3 player and a mobile phone in a stylish handset. There is the obvious use of texting and calling, but over the years a camera has become a standard function of a mobile phone. The W810i has a 2 mega pixel digital camera, the ability to zoom and change to night-vision, a flash and effects, also used to take videos. It includes a web browser which gives internet access and Bluetooth and infrared connectivity to transfer from phone to phone. A USB cable is also included so that the phone can communicate with the computer. It has been described as a ‘multitalented success’.
There is a slot for expandable memory of up to 2GB alongside the built in phone memory overall giving a standard mobile phone lots of media uses.

The converged Media is therefore:

· a digital camera

· video camera

· internet

· radio

· mp3

There is further use, as the mobile phone can connect to other technology and be used as a remote control.

For the consumer, there is a small portable piece of technology that is convenient and is able to multi-task. For the producer, there is fierce competition and in order to compete they must produce something different and something more than just a mobile phone.

If the producer carries on cramming in lots of media then the quality will being to reduce as they are not as reliable or as good a quality as a single component. For example, the camera on the phone will not be as good as a single piece of technology whose function is solely to take photographs. This will later be more likely to break down and have a shorter shelf life. The newer technologies that are trying to be incorporated are 3G phones and video calling, alongside watching television on your phone. Both of which cannot compete with the experience of watching the television or seeing someone face to face.

[10] Podcast

A podcast is an audio method of hearing or finding out about something. A series of episodes have been created in which people discuss or provide entertainment. Popular podcasts are those of LOST, Ricky Gervais, Television in General and following on from before, radio stations take advantage of podcasting as well. A podcast replaces all audio technology to an extent, including radio, cassettes, CD’s and is constantly adapting. It can also be used as catch up on news and weather updates which are increasingly becoming more popular. Podcasts are available in the form of downloading which means that an mp3 player would be used most commonly to listen to the podcast.

As podcasts are very particular in what they talk about, they tend to be very narrow-casted and concentrate on a particular topic which is aimed at a particular niche. They are found and imed at those with similar interests and therefore offer a personal experience as they are relating to what they are hearing. A range of media can be consumed through podcasting including books, films, reviews, clips, sounds, and radio intereviews and programmes, being an alternative from buying the media and having to read or get unnecessary information.

Broadcasters are involved as they are using the internet to promote and distribute their programmes in the form of podcasts which are easily accessible. The podcasting technology has enabled convenience and reinvented the ideology of radio shows being entertainment. This is also just a marketing technique, letting people know about the new shows or up-coming movies creating a fan base before its even started. To concentrate on the podcast effect, I have chosen to discuss Ricky Gervais. He has created a successful show with humour and comedy including interactivity and feedback from listeners. Once free from the BBC, it made a series which has become increasingly popular and almost like a television series which now they are asking a fee for. The initial intention was to just provide free entertainment, but globally this has become a phenomenon which has been distributed across the internet.

To concentrate on the podcast effect, I have chosen to discuss Ricky Gervais. He has created a successful show with humour and comedy including interactivity and feedback from listeners. Once free from the Guardian Unlimited, it made a series which has become increasingly popular and almost like a television series which now they are asking a fee for. The initial intention was to just provide free entertainment, but globally this has become a phenomenon which has been distributed across the internet.

[8] Blogging - Facebook, Myspace

Blogs are public diaries. They are made up of short and frequent posts, written my normal ordinary people which can be accessed by all those on the internet. They allow and expression of opinion without any sort of limitations. This replaces the idea of keeping a diary to an extent but with bearing in mind that everyone can read all that you right, it may be difficult to be totally honest. it also replaces to an extent, phone calling, texting, emailing and msn...as it becomes a new form of communication!

There are many popular blogging sites, although most sites have some sort of blogging section. The most popular are myspace.com, blogger.com and recently facebook.com. These are all social networking hosts which ‘brings people together’ using the internet. Theses social sites allow you to express yourself in how you want to be portrayed. Myspace allows you to change the background and play music when people visit your profile. People can comment on your page and have conversations. It relates to many different audiences – specifically teenagers to young adults (13-23) as it’s a way of communication. It allows people to keep in touch, reunite, meet new people, share your interests, post links, and express views.

Blogging and social networking therefore are complimentary for each other as sites like myspace and facebook replace msn in some form – but in a more public matter as what you say is available for everyone to read. It allows expression of thought and sharing photographs – all of which teenagers do but now at more convenience, and are able to comment on them, which essentially is what the younger generation are interested in.

Blogging combines many different forms of media. Videos, Sounds, Music and pictures can all be uploaded to share with others. Blogging concentrates mainly on personalisation and globalisation, as it allows you to be you and others all over the world to learn about you. Furthermore, these sites are controlled to a certain extent, to whom can visit your profile, making it slightly safer than it being totally available for everyone to see. The levels of interaction are endless – as you can keep uploading and linking to present yourself and keep communicating.

[7] Online Newspaper

The metro is a free newspaper distributed in the UK. It is available on public transport and can be found at any tube/train station. It is in the same group as The Daily Mail, The Main on Sunday and the Evening Standard.

The website displays the headlines, metro TV, The editor’s choice, the top 5 most read and Metro Favourites (Online Gambling, Travel Offers, Crosswords, Nemi Cartoons, Dating, Messageboards, Horoscopes, Metroku, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Rugby, Credit Reports and switch and save). The homepage is split into sections called News, Fame, Sport and even ‘metrosexual’ and ‘weird stuff’ – making it easier for the audience to surf and find what they are looking for with ease. The metro website also has blogs and podcasts.

The website reaps popularity from the paper as it’s the morning paper read by most people that use public transport. With this extra promotion, the website obviously gets a lot of attention. The ‘metrosexual’ section is for those that want dating tips and along the lines of passion. There is always someone ‘under offer’ in which, a person is looking for a date…adding extra interactivity to the audience. There is a ‘luuurve quiz’ which can be taken – overall making the paper less serious but with a fun side as well. You can find a date and upload your photos.
In an outrage section, the audience are allowed to express their views in forums and ‘blog room’ – with extreme headlines whose purpose is to catch the attention. There is examples of interactivity as viewers can text when convient…converging the technologies, encouraging them to use many different types of media. The metro group, although a free newspaper, receives large profits because of the mass popularity of it and their aim of making people express their views/outrage in the form of texting and other methods which all produce funding.

On the site, trailers, webzines, blogs are all posted relevant to the news or what the consumer may have read in that day. It is possible to save all the readers faveourite articles in a blog and reactions can be eexpressed. Videos can be posted on the site alongside advertisements, including updates, informations, dating sites, jobs, cinema times, new restaurants etc: all from the normal London traveller. The metro website converges many medias and is a good example of interactivity as instead of just reading, they can now comment and express in forms of texting, videos, blogging, and much more from a simple free newspaper.