TV Developments

I've also decided to look into the future developments of television, as this has been a hot subject this year, with the introduction of 3DTV and Internet TV.

I noticed that Sky3D had been added to my Sky channels a couple of weeks ago, even though 3D TVs were not available in the UK a this point. But I've just discovered that 3D TVs officially went on sale last Friday (April 23rd) in the UK!

http://topnews.co.uk/23670-3d-tv-makes-debut-sale-uk-friday

"Samsung officially released its 40-inch 3D set at selected John Lewis, Curry's and Comet stores. The set is priced at £1,799. The release of the Samsung 3D TV is followed by the release of Panasonic’s 3D TV model slated to be launched in the following week.
It has been reported that Sony and LG will also be launching their 3D TV’s in the coming months."

But it has also been stated that only the film Monsters Vs Aliens is available on 3D BluRay at present and we'll have to wait at least another year before Sky's 3D channel is fully launched.

To make the move from 2D to 3D won't be cheap though, as customers will have to already own or purchase a Sky HD box and purchase an 3D HD TV (ugh!). The first line of these TVs cost nearly £2,000. Oh, and you'll need to buy the silly glasses.

I've been to 3D cinema showings before, and to be honest I've not been impressed. The overall effect is very underwhelming, granted the technology is still in an early phase. I would much rather see technology such as this pushed further!:



Also launched this year is Sony's new range of Bravia Internet TVs.

http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/1237477937903/sony-internet-tv?campaignId=12003038&s_kwcid=sony%20internet%20tv5275876481

"From YouTube™ and Facebook™, over movies on demand with LOVEFiLM to Catch-up TV services, BRAVIA Internet Video and BRAVIA Internet Widgets put you in control of the best of the web."

Personally, I've been waiting for a development such as this for a long time and can't wait to have this technology available to me. I think this is a great development and I can't imagine what else can possibly be introduced and achieved with television technology next!


Advert for Sony's Bravia Internet TVs.

Facebook in Numbers

While using Facebook I stumbled across a page which shows the statistics of the site. A lot of facts and figures about the number of users, the frequency of their visits, activities and more are shown. This shows officially the ever growing popularity of Facebook and the amount and methods people use and access the site.

http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

More than 400 million active users
50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day
Average user has 130 friends
People spend over 500 billion minutes per month on Facebook

There are more than 100 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices.
People that use Facebook on their mobile devices are twice more active on Facebook than non-mobile users.

Twitterrr

The latest of the social networking and blogging craze is Twitter. The site is loved by Internet users, celebrities and businesses. The site offers users the ability to post short, snappy statutes/blogs ("tweets") to share information, talk to friends or just tell the world what's on your mind.

Some users admit to posting several or more times daily, which has led to questions about the addictive nature of social networking sites, as can be read here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8459311.stm

Celebrities including Stephen Fry have much praise for the site:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7851383.stm

I haven't used twitter myself, as twitter seems very one-dimensional (based solely around "tweets"). I opt for Facebook, where you can post status updates, but also have instant messaging, email and picture/video uploading and sharing.

Facebook Safety

Facebook are set to launch drastic new safety measures after coming under scrutiny. These measures include a 24-hour police hotline, awareness campaigns and abuse reporting systems.

I think things like this really show how these sites have grown into something that reaches from The Internet and into people's lives and society.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/13/facebook-safety

Bye Bye Bebo...

After researching a bit into Facebook and other social networking sites, I came across news that social networking site Bebo is due to be sold off or closed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/20/bebo-uk-losses

Social networking websites have grown and grown in popularity since 2000. Facebook and MySpace have been top choices for Internet users for some years, but AOL's Bebo has also been a favourite for the teen generation. In the last two years though, with the growing popularity of MySpace and, mainly, Facebook, the site has seen a dramatic loss of visits.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/11/online-bebo-social-networking

The Guardian lists Facebook, Youtube and Google as the top 3 to satisfy the world's need to socialise, share, stream and search. But could this all change within the next decade?

To do...

I've now got my essay in full swing and am decided on my 5 things to base it around. I've tried to choose technology and media that have become a part of my everyday life and that I have a keen interest in.

1. The Internet

As with the majority of people in the present day, the Internet has become a major part of my daily life. For work, leisure and communication, the Internet has it all. I may also go into the technologies I use to access the internet, eg. desktop computer, laptop, BlackBerry phone, Xbox 360.

2. Facebook

Facebook has also become a major thing for me. It's a great way to keep in contact with friends, arrange events, listen to music and play games. The only downside is how addictive it can become!

3. iPod

I take my iPod with me wherever I go. It's great to be able to have my entire music collection with me wherever I travel to keep me entertained. I remember having to take a pack of CDs around with me 5 years ago...

4. XBox 360

I have owned various console for around the past 14 years, including Sega Master System, Megadrive (I+II), PlayStation, PlaySation 2, and Xbox 360) and also some handheld consoles (Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance (+SP), PSP). The Xbox 360 is my current console of choice and I think it really symbolises how far the world of gaming has come. With online play, an internet browser, Facebook and Sky TV, the Xbox offers a lot more than gaming.

5. Television

Television is a hugely important part of life today. It has always offered entertainment and information, but has been adapted through the years to offer much more.


I also missed the 90s episode of Electric Dreams. So will have to catch up tomorrow using iPlayer (something else I debated about including in my essay!)