The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) has been a hot topic of discussion over the previous couple of weeks. Hundreds of websites have voiced their disapproval of the legislation, while many media outlets and American politicians have stressed the need for tighter controls over internet piracy. The main argument against the legislative bill is that it endangers freedom of speech and will harm well-meaning websites more than those actively distributing illegal content. But what exactly does the bill propose, and what are the implications of such changes?

The History of the Bill So Far

The bill was first introduced to the House of Representatives on the 26th of October 2011, by Texas Governor Lamar Smith. While the bill, if passed, would be an American law, it would have wider implications for other parts of the world, due to the global nature of the internet.

The bill would allow copyright holders and the US Department of Justice to inflict much more serious penalties on websites hosting and distributing copyrighted material. The new law would potentially force search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, to stop linking to these sites, as well as forcing online advertisers to remove any content from the websites.

On the 18th January 2011, the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, the blogging platform WordPress, and hundreds of other websites staged a 24-hour blackout in protest of the bill, which they hoped would help represent the implications that the bill may have on these websites.

Support for the Bill

Support for the bill outside of the House of Representatives has primarily come from large companies who have suffered from websites using their copyrighted content without their permission. These businesses include NBC, Nike, Ford, McMillan Publishers and more. These companies have argued that online piracy is putting jobs at stake, because of the loss of income that is seen as a result of this piracy.

Media outlets and production companies have been the most vocal in their support for the bill, because online piracy has a direct impact on their business. Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation, has been particularly vocal about the bill, expressing his support over Twitter.

Opposition of the Bill

Opposition has been widespread, because many feel that the bill has potential for a much more widespread impact. Google and Yahoo are two of the biggest companies opposed to the legislation. This is because part of the bill says that search engines must not link to any illegal or pirated content. Google and Yahoo have argued that, with the sheer volume of links, it would be impossible to enforce this.

This was supported by Edward J. Black, who argued in an article for the Huffington Post that it is too easy for those distributing material to change domains. He said: “Ironically, it would do little to stop actual pirate websites, which could simply reappear hours later under a different name, if their numeric web addresses aren’t public even sooner. Anyone who knows or has that web address would still be able to reach the offending website.”

The Obama administration and the White House have also come out in opposition of the bill. A response from the White House stated that it “would not support legislation with provisions that could lead to Internet censorship, squelching of innovation, or reduced Internet security.” However, it did stress that it encourages all sides to work together to create a legislation that helps to stop piracy.

What Happens Now?

In recent days, support from the bill has waned considerably, and the bill was shelved on 20th of January to allow for a rethink. While this is good news for many opponents of the bill, there will very likely be a redraft. File-sharing website Mega Upload was shut down on the 19th of January by the FBI for illegal activities, which is a sign that the idea of copyright protection and privacy prevention is far from over.

The major concerns of the bill have been centered around the potential for putting a stop to the creativity and innovation on the internet, through fear of reprisals if a company falls foul of any potential bill. However, while opposition of SOPA is fierce, most of these organisations and individuals agree there is a need for clamping down on internet piracy, but stress that SOPA is not the way forward.

Analysts, bloggers and reporters flocked from around the globe yesterday to attend Apple’s ‘Let’s Talk iPhone’ event where the speculation surrounding the new smartphone was finalised. The news that there will not be an iPhone 5 with a new design and 4G connectivity was hard to swallow for the many iPhone fans, who had eagerly anticipated the new phone they had all hyped up in their minds. Disappointment seems to be the general feeling after the intense build-up that has been circulating over the last few months. It is unfortunate that the public’s prediction of Apple’s next move was wrong and that the dissatisfaction may mean that people won’t be all rushing to the shops to trade in their iPhone 4 for the 4S.

The iPhone 4S does have some impressive additional features, and although it is not what most people expected the technology is pretty amazing. So let’s talk about what it does have rather than what it doesn’t and the reasons why Apple are still giants in the technology market …

Siri
Siri is a new feature exclusive to the iPhone 4S, it is designed to deliver information and follow commands that you give it. Siri provides a complete personal organisation system and comes in the form of a robotic female voice that you can change. You can use it for many things like checking the weather; asking for contacts addresses, asking irrelevant trivia, getting directions and setting reminders. The clever voice recognition system brings you your own personal assistant fully operational from your mobile phone. This technology is predicted to be the new sought after feature as Google are currently working on their version, watch the space on this one it looks like it could be the new function in the smartphone battlefield.

The Camera
The new 8 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus brings a new innovative way to take photos from your mobile. It is a whopping 33% faster than the iPhone 4 and you can snap away with the speedy “click” after each photo is taken. The Camera now also features 1080p video, image stabilisation and noise reduction.

Antenna and Speed
Both have massive improvements on the iPhone 4S, with dual antennas data speed is increased, this is the first smartphone that will be able to switch between antennas to transmit and receive data, improving both speed and quality. The HSDPA speed rockets from 7.2 Mbps to 14.4 Mbps. The iPhone 4S has Apple’s A5 dual-core 1GHz processor along with a dual-core CPU; the chipset will make it twice as fast and offer better graphics performance.

Granted Apple have offered an advanced iPhone, but have they done enough to sway people to buy it? Are the new additions something that maybe people will agree are brilliant but never really need to use and would there be any point paying any more money for a phone that looks the same as the last one? There is talk of the iPhone 5 coming out in June next year where there may be a complete redesign and even more artificial intelligence. The excitement and high expectations that have been put in peoples minds about the new product have not done Apple any favours; it seems people were expecting more in the time that Apple took to get it here.

So is it worth the risk? June is a long time off and we cannot really rely on Apples schedule, so if you are interested in the new features you might as well take the chance because with the technology market today, there is always something bigger and better just around the corner.

Last week saw the announcement of a whole host of new Facebook features, which will have a serious effect on the way we use the social networking site. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg personally delivered the keynote speech at the f8 conference in San Francisco. The conference is primarily aimed at developers and business partners, but the main announcements will have major implications on the way that the everyday user experiences Facebook. Zuckerberg announced changes relating to the look of the profile, social integration and a major new partnership with online music streaming service Spotify. All these changes are aimed at making Facebook an ‘entertainment hub’, where the sharing of music, film, books and games is taken to a whole new level.

Timeline – Your Personal Facebooking History

One of the biggest announcements at this year’s conference was the introduction of Timeline. Timeline is a new way of viewing one another’s profiles. It is essentially a plotted history of your time on Facebook, or, if you add more content from before you first used Facebook, a history of your life. A sample Timeline profile (available to view on the Facebook website) also shows the user’s recent music on Spotify, films on Netflix and Hulu, books read, pages liked, and more. While some of these individual elements are available to see on Facebook at the moment, but the new organisation is much more streamlined and integrated.

Ticker – An Extra Feed for the Little Things

Ticker is a feature that many users will already have noticed on their main profile page. The ticker feed has been compared to Twitter. The main point of Ticker is to provide an extra feed, so your main news feed doesn’t get clogged up with information that is of no significant interest for you. For example if someone changes a profile picture, it is likely to go into the new Ticker, as it’s not something that most people would deem to be important enough to warrant a place in your main feed. Ticker allows your main news feed to be filled with more important and relevant posts and updates.

New and Improved Spotify Integration

There were numerous internet companies that were in attendance at the f8 conference, many announcing partnerships with Facebook, but the standout development is the further integration of Spotify and Facebook. The new changes will mean that a user’s activity on Spotify is more easily visible to Friends on Facebook, as well as recognising similarities in the music choice of their friends. However, it now also means that you must have a Facebook account to sign up with Spotify.

Initial Reactions

The reception of the new and soon to be implemented changes has been decidedly mixed. Many critics feel that Facebook is trying to spread itself too thinly, rather than focusing on what it is good at: being a place to communicate with friends. The recently introduced Ticker has received criticism for further changing the profile layout, in a similar way to that of the new chat box. However, it must be remembered that many Facebook changes have been criticised, primarily due to changing a layout that users are accustomed to, but these criticisms are often forgotten once users have familiarised themselves with the new features.

More positive comments have focused on the ability for Facebook to be a ‘distribution platform’. This means that it will be easier for you to discover things you like, and the ability to pass these interests on to friends. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings made a point about how friends have a big influence on our choices. He told a story about how the Netflix algorithm always told him to watch the TV show Breaking Bad, which he constantly overlooked, but when told on the new Facebook platform by a Friend to watch it, he immediately decided to do so.

Be Prepared for Big Changes

Whether you appreciate the new Facebook changes or not, it is undoubtedly one of the biggest periods of transition that the company has gone through. It will be a little while before all of the changes are implemented, but will alter the way we connect socially. These changes will also have an impact on the way advertisers use the power of Facebook. As yet the full extent of this is not known, but will likely give companies an opportunity to interact with users in whole new ways.

Looking at reviews of the iPhone 4, from both consumers and writers on technology websites, it’s hard to find any that don’t give it a very high review. For example if you type ‘top ten smartphones’ in to Google, the iPhone 4 is listed as number one in seven of the first ten relevant results. This shows that the iPhone is regarded as one of the very best and most advanced smartphones on the market.

Admittedly, the choice of smartphone is all down to opinion and iPhones are not without their critics. It is often criticised for its ‘closed’ system in the App Store, where all apps are vetted by Apple before being allowed in the store. This is the opposite of its main competitor, the Android operating system, which has an ‘open’ system. This means that there are no restrictions on the content that can be created, but this has led to apps being potentially virus ridden, whereas the Apple app store is a safer alternative. The iPhone 4 was also heavily criticised for its reception problems, which meant that some phones required a rubber ‘bumper’ to improve the signal.

Opinion aside, the iPhone’s sales figures are very impressive. The iPhone 4 sold an estimated 13.5 million handsets in the 3rd quarter of 2010. The Android operating system has sold 20 million in the same quarter, but this is spread across dozens of handsets with varying features and power. The iPhone 4, as the name suggests, is only the fourth handset from Apple and one of only two still in production. No single handset has come close to selling the same amount as the iPhone 4.

The major breakthroughs and selling points of the original iPhone have become a standard feature expected on any high-end smartphone bought today. The most recent offerings from Samsung (Galaxy S2), HTC (Sensation) and LG (Optimus 2X) can match an iPhone 4 for performance and the majority of features available. The three phones, all running on the Android operating system 2.3, called Gingerbread, have been met with very positive reviews. All three phones use a dual-core processor, which increases the processing capabilities of the phones and the Samsung Galaxy S2, according to official specifications, is a full 0.7mm thinner than the iPhone 4.

There are a number of exciting new phones and new innovations that will make the competition even fiercer. The Windows Phone 7 operating system, while still in its infancy, has been met with positive reviews. Windows Phone 7 has also recently announced a partnership with Nokia, who are still the market leader in the overall mobile phone market. There is also a 3D offering from LG just a matter of weeks away. We must also remember that the current iPhone is now a year old and even though potential features of the new model are under wraps, we can expect considerable improvements when it is finally released.

The arguments over the best smartphone will rage on and it’s all about opinion and what features you look for in a phone. It may be smarter to ask whether we will see a smartphone that can offer something that will tempt the fiercely loyal Apple consumer away from the lure of a new iPhone. These are exciting times in the world of smartphones. However, the iPhone 4 reigns supreme in the battle for sales, at least for the time being.

Gaming giant Nintendo is set to announce the successor to its successful Wii console at next month’s E3 event, revealing the specifications of the machine that will follow the 86m selling phenomenon.

With rivals Sony and Microsoft staying silent on their next-generation plans for now, Nintendo is effectively the first of the trio to break cover, which is a bold strategy and one that hasn’t always proven to be the right one in the gaming industry.

The story of Sega – and specifically its ill-fated Dreamcast console – should serve as a precautionary tale to Nintendo, highlighting the potential pitfalls that can come with being the first to show your hand.

The Dreamcast Nightmare

Having earned its spurs in the nascent industry with the Master System, MegaDrive and Saturn consoles, Sega made its bid to strike a crushing first blow of the next generation, releasing the Dreamcast in late 1998. The new console was undoubtedly ahead of its time; with advanced graphical capabilities, online play (DreamArena) and a novel LCD screen insert for controllers. What could go wrong?

Well, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, having been beaten to the punch, used Sega’s early release as an opportunity to refine and perfect their offerings against the Dreamcast, and released the Gamecube, Playstation2 and Xbox respectively. This created an unusually saturated market with more choice than ever for consumers.

The early release of the Dreamcast made the console appear to be an older, less appealing proposition for buyers… and its fate was effectively sealed.

With customers increasingly opting for the newer alternatives, the Dreamcast lasted just three years against the competition, falling several years short of the expected lifespan of the console. The official discontinuation was announced in 2001 after months of falling sales. The failure had near-terminal repercussions, and Sega never recovered as a hardware manufacturer. The Dreamcast was the last console it produced, with the company moving solely into software publishing, where it remains today.

So, despite getting in first, despite the genuine innovations and despite the technological ability of the machine being on par with its competitors, the Dreamcast debacle almost killed the company.

While such an outcome would be perhaps unthinkable for Nintendo this time around, Sega’s dramatic fall from grace will not be far from their minds as the release of the Wii’s successor draws nearer.

Apple’s long-awaited white iPhone 4 has been released this week, but perhaps the biggest related story is the way that Apple broke the news.

With a single word – “Finally” – Apple displayed a self-deprecating humility that many feel has been distinctly absent from the way the company usually presents itself. It was a bold decision to go with this, as it represents Apple holding its hands up and admitting it has made a mistake.

We wrote on Green Notes back in October 2010 that the white iPhone 4 delay showed an unexpected vulnerability from Apple, and mused that it could have a wider impact on the way that the company was perceived in the future.

In the mere six months or so that has passed since we published that article, Apple has released the second generation of the tablet platform-defining iPad, achieving record sales figures and typical hype. The original black iPhone 4 has continued to sell well globally, bringing on board a second network carrier in the US and impressive new capabilities through an OS update. Just this week a report claimed that the company’s phenomenal cash reserve could support the whole operation until 2018, even if it didn’t make another penny from now on. The Cupertino juggernaut hasn’t slowed down, despite the white iPhone 4’s continued elusiveness.

With this ongoing success in mind, the tone of the ‘Finally’ announcement certainly wasn’t a given. Apple could have comfortably heralded the release as the latest in a long line of wonder products and carried on regardless. But it didn’t. It acknowledged the massive delay, and almost apologetically pushed the white iPhone into the fleeting limelight.

So, while the white iPhone 4 won’t break any sales records, it may well have given Apple a PR lesson that money can’t buy.

Facebook are looking to transform the modern film industry by partnering up with Warner Bros and offering its US users The Dark Knight to rent through its online Facebook page. The film will cost 30 Facebook credits, or $3 to watch the film as many times as you like in a 48 hour period. This is apparently the first of many films which will be made available on the social media platform, and could lead to more titles and different studios to take the plunge, and begs the question how could a partnership with one of the largest film production companies in the world benefit Facebook?

The film industry is an untapped market for social media, and it could be an opportunity for Facebook to combine online interaction whilst watching a film, swapping comments and thoughts about the film. There are some questions which arise about whether this add-on to Facebook is a step too far, and why Warner Bros have not set up online rental themselves, without needing to use Facebook. With over 500 million users, Facebook has such a vast user base; Warner Bros could be using their reach to gain a step up into social media. The Dark Knight is currently seventh on the all time highest grossing films, and it would be interesting to see how its introduction to a new media vehicle affects its rank and figures.

If the partnership proves successful, could we see more film studios renting films out through Facebook? Or is a Facebook film production company possible? With the value of $76.4bn, the social media platform could expand its brand and has the perfect base to market and deliver a product to their users on a grand scale. This is temporarily available to users in the United States; however is there really that much requirement for an online film rental through Facebook? Some people may see it as needless, particularly with HD televisions and surround sound systems now increasingly popular in homes trying to mirror the cinema feel. Facebook will also face stiff competition from Netflix and their popular service, as well as Blockbusters, Amazon and other rental companies. What better film to test the new feature, then a film whose fan page has received over 3.9 million likes? It is because of this mass popularity which as seen the action film used as a guinea pig.

Facebook as a brand is expanding at a quick pace, with their integrated mailing system announced before Christmas, mobile platform released last month and film rental service set to include more titles in the coming months. It is hard to imagine now an internet without the presence of Facebook somewhere, whether it is a ‘like’ button or a comment about the platform. Facebook is continuing to increase in size and wealth, but it will be interesting to see how long their growth continues and which imaginative way they choose to expand next?

This week saw Apple launch the iPad 2, a lighter streamlined and faster model which looks to galvanise the ever evolving tablet market. However the release of the iPad 2 is not the only tablet which will be available to consumers this year, but how have the competing brands tried to tackle the market in an innovative way? The problem that faces many manufacturers is how to create a unique selling point in a consumer market offering in essence similar products. Tablet computers have seen a dramatic increase in popularity with over 80 new products expected to be released to the market this year; it is easy for the consumer to become lost and begin to drown in a sea of processor numbers, model types and software names.

Despite the obvious interest in tablet computers, some consumers are still questioning whether there is much need for the device and if it is worth the money brands are charging. The new iPad 2 is available at the same price as the previous iPad, which sets it up well to compete with the vast array of tablets being released. RIM Blackberry, Samsung, Motorola, and Hewlett Packard have all developed tablet computers which offer slight variations of a similar product. Perhaps the main draw for consumers, is whether they prefer to use the Android operating system, or prefer the Apple iOS, a hotly contested topic which inevitably comes down to individual preference.

Is this Apple’s year for the taking? Or will the Motorola Xoom, Blackberry Playbook or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 take the market by storm? There are rumours circulating that RIM will be partnering Android for the release of the Playbook, which may give the device a greater level of availability. The tablet computer could be thought of as a luxury, however with necessity. With so much choice and variety of brands, models and software, the consumer may have a difficult choice deciding which one is best for them. This could be the year for tablet computers to even further expand their reach; however it begs the question if there is so much hype and expectation now, what will the following years bring for the tablet industry? It certainly will be an interesting market to watch.

Owning a pocket tool that encourages literary talent to blossom is a technological asset worth taking advantage of. A pen and paper are not always practical when generating lines of creativity. A mobile phone, as we all know, has changed how we write. Inspiration can often lie in the most unexpected places. When an idea suddenly comes to us, one thing is almost certain our mobile will be within reach. A flurry of text is now available at our fingertips, making it even easier to observe and interpret what we experience as an individual. This could be snapshots of daily life that consist of waiting at the bus stop, walking through a park or sitting in a cafe.

Relaying our unique perspective and personal style is made possible through the descriptive properties of language. We are now able to record the detail of life as it happens. You never know, this may form the beginnings of brilliant poetry, the opening of a best selling novel or simply an entry in a diary that suspends treasured memories perfectly within text. Writing apps make this possible and by their very nature make writing easier.

The arrangement and choice of words on a page has the ability to create certain tones and images. It is often easier to convey what we really feel or think through the written word, as opposed to verbal communication that is always constrained by the pressure of real time. Heartfelt lyrics that help to elevate a song into classic status also rest on this basis. Adverts that contain thought provoking taglines and wordplay within newspaper headlines also continue to retain long-lasting appeal.

A written piece can have depth and convey meaning, sometimes much more proficiently than an off the cuff remark ever could. This is why speeches are often written first, then edited and amended before they can be delivered with flair. They then benefit from considered points and thoughtfulness, presented as a string of ideas that flow with coherency. Words when used correctly are actually a very powerful tool that can persuade on mass and trigger revolution, such as Malcolm X.

Some handy writing apps include:

Momento - This app allows you to keep a mini journal, so when you are out and about you can record interesting moments. When you open the app, you’ll be given a list of all the days that you’ve written down in an entry. Momento can be used in the same way as a Twitter or Facebook account, reserved for private musings and observations or linked up to social networking sites so you can quickly upload your feeds.

Postino – This useful post card app saves you the trouble of searching the local shops for a postcard to send back to friends and family. The app lets you include photos of your holiday taken on your phone as a postcard picture, while you are able to write a message accompanying it, sending it directly without the usual lengthy delays associated with postcards.

Write Room -This handy app was created as an alternative to Microsoft Word. The Write room is based purely on the written word, creating a writing environment that is less cluttered. There are no options to insert graphs, tables or page layouts, so there are no distractions and the writers mind is kept clear. Green text appears on a black background, much like that of a 1980’s computer, providing a back to basics approach. This has the effect of making writing about writing and not about technological trickery.

Try a writing app and flex your creative muscles when you get the chance, you might surprise yourself.

With such a vast array of companies all competing for the consumer’s attention, a brand needs to be innovative, charismatic and intriguing to stand out amongst the rest. A trend on the internet can spread all around the world in a matter of minutes, with email, Facebook and Twitter the perfect platform to share the latest craze or video. Viral marketing videos which engross the viewer and show how your product is different from all others similar can be watched, rated and then shared around the globe, not only increasing your brand awareness but also changing the consumer’s perception of your products.

One of the most successful viral marketing campaigns has the viewer interacting and having influence on the video. In 2010 the Old Spice – ‘The man your man could smell like’ saw a range of short video clips where the possibilities were endless if you used Old Spice. The humour and topics involved created a media frenzy totalling more than 13 million views, and resulted in personal questions which were asked through Twitter and answered in real time through videos posted to YouTube. This high level of participation between consumer and brand saw a social media blitz which pushed Old Spice, a somewhat forgotten brand to the forefront of consumer’s mind.

Another viral advert campaign which generated such intense fascination from the public is Blendtec’s – ‘Will it Blend?’ campaign. Cleverly done, the series of videos combine a memorable theme tune and an eccentric presenter and show how their blender can blend anything. The collection of videos exceeded 117 million views, and took requests asking them to blend items from iPhones to a Big Mac meal. The huge popularity saw the videos shared and watched across the internet, and showed Blendtec as an authority in the industry.

It is this snowball effect where popular videos gain wider coverage which can give a brand global recognition. Any company, whether a small business or agency trying to get noticed or an old fashioned brand invigorated with creativity and ingenuity, can become an internet hit with a successful viral video campaign. Viral videos do not have the same restrictions as adverts on the television as they are not monitored by the Advertising Standards Authority. This allows brands to be risqué and to show videos which would may not be allowed to be shown on the television. A popular viral video can increase a company’s impact on the internet, help to successfully launch a product and revive forgotten brands. Taking advantage of the wide availability of the internet and instant sharing of videos and news is imperative in getting your brand’s message heard.

Green Media have over 10 years experience with internet advertising, digital marketing and social media, so if you are looking to optimise your business’ online performance, email info@green-media.com or call 01912328088.