by Ashley Haugen
Things may look a little different next time you log into YouTube. The video website has gone through a major re-design to highlight subscriptions and channels. When you login, you will be greeted with a new homepage that shows recent activity from all of your subscriptions. What I like most though about the new YouTube is their Facebook and Google+ integration.
The re-design sets up YouTube to become a bigger competitor to cable TV. With millions of Youtube channels, the new homepage allows you to better organize and watch the things that interest you the most. "[YouTube] is a container for all the world's video, and it needs to be the best home for that," says Margaret Stewart, director of User Experience at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, Calif.
Besides the appealingly simplistic design, it encourages the user to find new content through the the trending, popular, music and entertainment links on your home page. In the left navigation bar, there are also links to Facebook and Google+. Clicking these displays videos that your friends on either network have shared. Having these all in one easy, clean space is very attractive.
Check it out for yourself, or watch this video showcasing the new design.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The newest Facebook change appeals to the novelist in all of us
If Twitter's approach to communication in the digital age is short and sweet, it's safe to say that Facebook is trying to establish itself on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Facebook just announced they are once again increasing the maximum character limit for status updates to over 60,000 characters.
To put the new 63,206 character limit in perspective, it's the equivalent to just over 451 tweets! In fact, I'd be able to post this Daily Axioms blog (title and all) more than 44 times in a single status update!
As I alluded to earlier, this is hardly the first time Facebook has increased how much users can post per status update. Here's a quick timeline of the changes:
- Facebook's launch through March 2009: A Twitter-esque 160 characters.
- March 2009-July 2011: More than doubles to 420 characters.
- July 2011-September 2011: Facebook adds an extra half-tweet's worth to make it an even 500 characters.
- September 2011-November 2011: A huge 1000% increase, allowing for 5,000 character updates.
- Today: This latest spike brings the total to 63,206 characters per update.
Granted, just because people can post over 60,000 characters doesn't mean they will. More importantly, will there be a user backlash from news feeds clogged with posts that are long enough to be printed and bound in a library?
How do you feel about Facebook's latest update?
Labels:
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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Is Buffett on to Something: Warren Buffett to Purchase The Omaha World-Herald
by Andrea Bredow
Warren Buffett is buying a Newspaper? Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway is set to purchase The Omaha World-Herald in late December. Is he on to something, trying to protect a piece of Omaha history (his home town) or is he a bit crazy?
We all know the world of Newspapers is crumbling. Newspapers have folded left and right, layoffs are common place, and there is even newspaperdeathwatch.com. All of which I'm sure Buffett is well aware of. It begs the question, why would one of the world's smartest investors buy a Newspaper?
I recently watched Page One: Inside the New York Times. A documentary following the Times during 2010, a year when veteran reporters were forced out, staff was producing more with less and the Times had to face the fact that ad dollars just weren't coming in. This film is a unique inside look at the world of papers and unfortunately paints a gloomy picture for their future.
Is this the turning point for Newspapers? Will Buffett's faith in what many think is a dying medium bring new life to the business...or is he just a sentimental man at heart?
Warren Buffett is buying a Newspaper? Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway is set to purchase The Omaha World-Herald in late December. Is he on to something, trying to protect a piece of Omaha history (his home town) or is he a bit crazy?
We all know the world of Newspapers is crumbling. Newspapers have folded left and right, layoffs are common place, and there is even newspaperdeathwatch.com. All of which I'm sure Buffett is well aware of. It begs the question, why would one of the world's smartest investors buy a Newspaper?
I recently watched Page One: Inside the New York Times. A documentary following the Times during 2010, a year when veteran reporters were forced out, staff was producing more with less and the Times had to face the fact that ad dollars just weren't coming in. This film is a unique inside look at the world of papers and unfortunately paints a gloomy picture for their future.
Is this the turning point for Newspapers? Will Buffett's faith in what many think is a dying medium bring new life to the business...or is he just a sentimental man at heart?
Monday, November 28, 2011
I'm NOT Sorry!
When a tweet gets noticed, is the spotlight a good or bad thing?
A high schooler in Kansas recently tweeted a not so glowing message to the Governor, his people noticed it and pushed for an apology. The teens High School requested she write an 'I'm sorry' letter and she refused. Standing behind her 1st amendment rights the teen received an apology from the Governor and her high school backed down.
One Tweet put this teen in the spotlight; national tv attention, an increase of 9,000 twitter followers and national conversation. But, I have to wonder is this type of attention good or bad for what I'm guessing is a college bound teen.
Take a look at the Tweet that caused the commotion and let me know what your think. Good attention or possible negative consequences?
Tweet: “Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot"
A high schooler in Kansas recently tweeted a not so glowing message to the Governor, his people noticed it and pushed for an apology. The teens High School requested she write an 'I'm sorry' letter and she refused. Standing behind her 1st amendment rights the teen received an apology from the Governor and her high school backed down.
One Tweet put this teen in the spotlight; national tv attention, an increase of 9,000 twitter followers and national conversation. But, I have to wonder is this type of attention good or bad for what I'm guessing is a college bound teen.
Take a look at the Tweet that caused the commotion and let me know what your think. Good attention or possible negative consequences?
Tweet: “Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot"
Monday, November 21, 2011
Facebook's New Frictionless Sharing Rubs Many the Wrong Way
While many people questioned the visual overhaul of Facebook's Timeline design, the real Facebook uproar lately has been focused on its new Seamless Sharing system.
Seamless, or frictionless, sharing automatically posts updates about the apps you're using within Facebook. Listen to a song on Spotify or read an article on Yahoo through Facebook and it'll update automatically to all of your friends.
Naturally, the thought of posting on your own wall without control created quite a backlash, with many social media pundits declaring the feature a violation of privacy and just plain wrong.
However, there's also been a backlash to backlash, with others claiming that the Seamless Sharing system has simply redefined the concept of "sharing" rather than ruin it. They say that the frictionless sharing isn't perfect, but could be made better with stronger filtering instead of getting rid of it outright.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the automatic updates because of how much they dominate my news feed. But to those who are uncomfortable with having their media consumption habits strewn about Facebook, there's an easy solution: Don't use the services within Facebook. I use both Spotify and Yahoo News fairly regularly, but I use them outside of Facebook.
What do you think? Has Seamless Sharing ruined Facebook sharing, or simply added a new dimension to it?
Seamless, or frictionless, sharing automatically posts updates about the apps you're using within Facebook. Listen to a song on Spotify or read an article on Yahoo through Facebook and it'll update automatically to all of your friends.
Naturally, the thought of posting on your own wall without control created quite a backlash, with many social media pundits declaring the feature a violation of privacy and just plain wrong.
However, there's also been a backlash to backlash, with others claiming that the Seamless Sharing system has simply redefined the concept of "sharing" rather than ruin it. They say that the frictionless sharing isn't perfect, but could be made better with stronger filtering instead of getting rid of it outright.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the automatic updates because of how much they dominate my news feed. But to those who are uncomfortable with having their media consumption habits strewn about Facebook, there's an easy solution: Don't use the services within Facebook. I use both Spotify and Yahoo News fairly regularly, but I use them outside of Facebook.
What do you think? Has Seamless Sharing ruined Facebook sharing, or simply added a new dimension to it?
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