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April 29th, 2008 -- Over the last few weeks the Filemobile coders have been working hard on getting the 2.0 release ready for you. Here is a preview of the new features:
Our site builder application has undergone some major changes. It is now be called Applications, and Filemobile clients now have the ability to run multiple applications inside each project. That means you could have a Website, Facebook application, Contest Site, and or a Blog, all using the same registration system, and the same media files. How cool is that!
Because the templates interface is a place where developers spend a lot of time, and nobody really likes coding in textareas, we have improved the developer experience. We made improvements to the template editor, giving you more space to code and have added syntax highlighting and line numbers.
Previously the dashboard pages were static. We upgraded all the section homepage to show you relevant statistics about your campaign, and we made it easier to click-through to the subsections.
We have also made a lot of design improvements, including tooltips and improved consistency across the various sections.
In our never-ending search to give you new and interesting ways to gather and distribute media, we've also made some updates to the widgets feature for version 2.0. We've replaced the single file player in the widget publisher with a version that adds enhanced customization and usability. You can now control different colour, display and playback settings. We've also added in our new Webcam Recorder widget that allows you to click your way to a customized recorder that is embeddable in any of your application sites.
The biggest difference you'll notice comes in the widget publisher itself. In an effort to make creating customized widgets easier, we've added in a series of tooltips that give you relevant information for every setting you have control over. Not sure what a checkbox does? Hopefully our tooltips will provide the answers you need.
Admin functions help documentation, and project settings are now located in the function links at the bottom of your screen. Filemobile’s internal Wiki is now available in a read-only format inside the Media factory. We have pages of information on our components, and how to develop applications with the Mediafactory.
Reports have been continuously expanded and now occupy a separate tab. New additions include: Quick Stats, the ability to port data to Excel, graph & table views and access to bandwidth & storage info.
We have a feedback system now built into the tools, and look forward to hearing what you think of this new release. If you have any questions about the release please contact support@filemobile.com.
We hope you'll enjoy it!
The Filemobile Team
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April 25th, 2008 -- CTV News has launched a citizen journalism component to it's nightly news cast. Powered by Filemobile's UGC News platform, CTV can instantly receive news via cellphone or PC from across the country. CTV's news affilates will all be alerted when citizen generated news is received. When an editor receives breaking news, they can publish the news from Filemobile into CTV's Gateway system, and onto TV in a matter of seconds. In offering UGC News to Canadians CTV hopes to broaden it's base of reporters by engaging regular Canadians in the news gathering process. From CTV's website:
"Have you seen news happening?
Do you have a video or image(s) of something that should be seen on our CTV Newscasts?
It can be breaking news like a fire or accident or something eye-catching like a late spring storm or a celebrity sighting.
We are looking for the best in citizen journalism to complement CTV's own newsgathering efforts."
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April 18, 2008 -- CTV's Canadian Idol 'Last Chance Auditions' took things further today by launching their first viral video wall ... allowing fans to add 'Last Chance Auditions' videos anywhere on the web. To see it in action, check out idol.ctv.ca. Enabling fans to promote the show they love allows them to let friends in on what's happening with Canadian Idol.
Check out the 'Get and Share' button at the bottom of the widget to easily share 'Last Chance Auditions' anywere on the web. If you live in Facebook, then install the as an application right in your profile 'Last Chance Auditions' Facebook Application
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Filemobile peeps give it their best
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 --- CTV Digital has launched Canadian Idol's Last Chance online auditions. This program uses our user-generated white label product and Mediafactory to manage the incoming auditions received by upload or webcam. This is the first time in North America, any eligible contestant with access to a computer can have their chance at a Golden Ticket.
Filemobile's webcam widget is used as part of the Last Chance Auditions, and it is something we are quite proud of. The webcam recorder has been developed using using Wowza Media Sever and Amazon EC2. Wowza gives us the power we need for a fraction of the price of Flash Media Server. Amazon EC2 gives us the scalability that we need when providing services for large media companies. The webcam recorder widget is part of Filemobile's widget publisher.
Press from all over the country have been reporting on this new feature to Canadian Idol.
The Canadian Press wrote the following:
"Canadian Idol" said Monday that wannabe contestants can now get a shot at stardom by submitting an audition video online - and it didn't take long for dream seekers to apply.
Within minutes of the announcement, a few grainy videos appeared on the show's website, http://lastchance.idol.ctv.ca/, most of them featuring off-key amateurs offering up more enthusiasm than talent.
Among the early online offerings Monday were a painful attempt at Bryan Adams' '80s love ballad "Heaven," and a lighthearted take on Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'," accompanied by animated arm dancing.
Check out CTV's Canadian Idol 'Last Chance auditions' at lastchance.idol.ctv.ca
Check out CTV's press release for 'Last chance auditions' .
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Tuesday, April 8, 2008 --- TSN today launched a redesigned site ( www.tsn.ca ) featuring Mediafactory powered comments on stories. TSN's 'Your Call' feature allows fans to provide comments as text, photos and videos, including rating other comments.
Moderation services support 24/7 review of comments before being posted to the site.
These features leverage Mediafactory's 'Feedback Engine' to collect comments on articles. Check out TSN's 'Your Call' at www.tsn.ca/videoyourcall/ .
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On Sunday, March 23rd CBC's Bring Home the Cup launched their second season of this popular UGC contest. Filemobile is again powering the platform for this contest. This year we worked with two of Toronto's digital agencies to get the job done; Indusblue, and 70mainstreet. Indusblue is one of CBC's digital agencies, and are responsible for the design, while 70mainstreet (Filemobile's Agency of Record) provided the integration of design into our UGC white label. Users are told to send in their video that describe "What's your playoff ritual". Back again in year two are CBC's sponsors: Pepsi, Lay's and Gatorade. A unique twist this year is the focus on user ratings of the videos. We are looking forward to see who brings home the cup this year. |
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When reviewing the list of the ten largest internet companies on the planet, all but one are major corporate players with deep pockets... The exception being Wikipedia- a not-for profit organization which sits proudly in 7th position.
Their financial situation is comparatively modest compared to the other top ten , but it is growing. While they off set a vast proportion of their costs through volunteers donating their time to post and edit content, they also rely on cash donations. In 2007 Wikipedia’s cash contributions jumped 40 percent to $2.2-million from $1.3-million in the prior year. With some recent big donations, their budget is set to be $4.6-million this year.
Currently, Wikipedia employees 15 individuals, and has recently hired a new executive director, Sue Gardner, formerly head of The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) web operations.
Sue's primary task is to provide direction for the future of Wikipedia. There is endless debate as to which route to take- how should Wikipedia raise and spend money. Should it stay on the present course of seeking cash donations to keep its servers running? Or should it explore other sources of revenue — such as advertising models?
To put the advertising model to test, consider the following: Wikipedia has over 2 million articles, generates over 50 million unique visitors a month, and 6 billion page views per month. Place one ad per page (6 m CPM's a month) at a 50% sold rate , with a $2 CPM, you get a cash flow of $6 million a month, or a total of $70 million per year. Make that a 100% sold rate and you get $140 million in ad sales annually.
That is some serious cash! Just imagine what Wikipedia could do with that money to further enhance the users experience on Wikipedia. It could purchase books, photographic collections, entire archives of information to include on the site. The possibilities to acquire and make public useful and interesting information are mind boggling.
Proponents of Wikipedia might feel that adopting an advertising strategy may be “selling out” and contrary to Wikipedia's not for profit philosophy. But what if they were to adopt an advertising model without compromising their commitment to the spirit of not-for profit?. What if they only sold page space at a drastically reduced rate to not-for-profit/non profit organizations such as The Red Cross or The World Wildlife Foundation or Greenpeace?
Even if Wikipedia sold the ads at 50 cents a CPM (a 75% discount) Wikipedia could generate $20 million a year (assuming 60% sell rate) That is still a wack of dough to help further develop content and it provides the not for profit organizations an opportunity to raise awareness (and donations). It could be a win-win for all.
Wikipedia needs to make a decision as to how it wants to grow and how it will raise the funds to do so. So many good things could come if they would consider dipping its toe in the advertising pool.
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On March 29, 2008, cities across Canada, and around the world will turn off their lights for Earth Hour, a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) event to raise awareness about climate change and symbolize that by working together, the people of the world can make a difference in the fight against climate change.
Earth Hour has grown from a single event in Sydney, Australia in 2007 to a global phenomenon that will occur across six continents in 2008.
Filemobile supports clients such as Molson who are actively supporting efforts in Canada for Earth Hour. Filemobile is participating by ensuring we do what we can to minimize our carbon footprint. Whether that is through ensuring the efficient use of energy in our office, to supporting people powered modes of transit, to encouraging the participation of our employees, clients and suppliers in Earth Hour activities.
For more information about Earth Hour, or to sign up as an individual, please visit www.earthhour.org. Visit this site to find useful downloads, tools, tips and news updates or get creative and visit Earth Hour's Facebook, youTube, Flickr and MySpace pages to add your video and Earth Hour pictures
Youtube - Earth Hour | Flickr - Earth Hour | Myspace - Earth Hour | Facebook - Earth Hour
Download EarthHour2008_MakingItHappenInYourTown.pdf
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The value of users creating content is that your customers can be participants, and interact with your message instead of just being spectators. With a well-considered moderation plan, this user-generated content (UGC) can create brand credibility via public advocacy.
Case in point: CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada presents Bring Home the Stanley Cup.
Videos posted by hockey fans (particularly the finalists - currently posted from last year’s campaign) display passion for the game of hockey, the history of the NHL and Stanley Cup, family values and national unity. What better messages for Canada’s National broadcaster, a network for the people and of the people (via tax dollars), and the National Hockey League, striving to present family-friendly entertainment to an ever-fickle, globalized consumer? The winning videos are even shown during a HNIC broadcast.
Although this is a great example of brand-focused, successful UGC campaign, most user-generated content is just plain bad.
Sure we can get people to submit videos and even get those videos on broadcast, but most of it is unpalatable.
What other roles can users fill within the communications value chain besides that of content producers?
User-Generated Programming (UGP)
This is in the form of having users create their own playlists of “engineered content”. Joe or Jane Sixpack can create their own channels of content, whether it be highlights of her favourite sports team, his favourite heavy metal playlist, or news as she wants it: world, business then entertainment. Users will stay longer, consume more content and even watch ads, if they are getting what they want AND its easy to get it.
User-Distributed Programming (UDP)
This is more than letting users share items with friends, or even embedding your video on their MySpace or Facebook page. Once a user creates his custom programming, he should be able to watch it anywhere. Take for instance, a popular talent show on television. The user selects an “engineered playlist”, such as all content, the 5 most popular clips, last night’s highlights, etc; and places it on his iGoogle. Every time that show airs, he get his fix HOW he wants and WHERE he wants it. He is such a big fan that he filters a playlist by a particular contestant (or team, etc…) and places it on his Facebook to show everyone that he is a fan. Wrap a call to action around it, and you’ve got a tethered, programmable, interactive, advocated, customizable, traffic-driving super-widget that is hit-trackable back the source! How, you ask?
Note the difference between iGoogle and Facebook/MySpace. On iGoogle, I consume MY content. On Facebook/MySpace YOU consume MY content. Well, sort of. Here is a great quote from Family Guy’s Stewie Griffin, trying to impress a high school girl:
“I took a bunch of pictures, you can see them on my MySpace page along with my favourite songs and movies and things that other people have created that I use to express my individualism.”
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Filemobile bumper |
We have just produced our video bumper. This will play on this corporate site in our client projects area. It is an example of a pre-roll bumper that could play before any video on the Filemobile platform. Something we have built to help our clients monetize their video content. Check it out. |
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