Google Inc. will begin distributing online video ads for the first time later this week, continuing the Internet search engine leader’s effort to diversify beyond the static written messages that generate most of its profits.
A little late but heres my two cents…..
For me the great thing about Google’s adsense or any other text based advertising is that while it undoubtably generates revenue, it is un-obtrusive. Text based ads can be designed to integrate into a site, do the job they are intended for and not put people off browsing your site. For the same reason that Google’s image ads are far less frequently seen (well depending on your browsing habits) Googles’s introduction of video will not be used by the majority of sensible designers or site owners.
The two shows that really get my attention every year are E3 and South by Southwest (SXSW). SXSW brings together the most creative minds of the web for panels, keynotes and speeches – good excuse for a bit of a party too. For those who didn’t make it, including myself, they have released the podcasts for this year’s event on their website.
Well almost, you may remember a while back I talked about a complete redesign of the Wordpress admin panel that has been codenamed ‘Shuttle‘. The team seem to have been working on this for ever and from the pictures it’s gonna be a big improvement on the standard set up at the moment. The hard work, sweat and toil appears to have paid off and the design is now (Photoshop) complete, though my understanding is that there is still some way to go implementing the code. Check out the pictures on Khaled’s Broken Kode.
It seems there will be two versions of the forthcoming PS3, much like the two incarnations of the Xbox360. The first, a 20GB hard disk version will be the basic version, offering the same essential functionality but without some of the frills.
The second has the previously announced and more respectable, 60GB hard disk and will also offer Wi-Fi functionality. The ‘premium’ model will also offer slots for memory sticks, SD cards and compact flash cards and have a more extensive range of ports. Though less than expected and demo’d at last years E3, the ‘premium’ PS3 will have one HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port, 4 USB and one Ethernet ports. Clearly this is the model to go for when considering linking up to your brand spanking new High Def TV, HDMI offers considerably more bandwidth with its uncompressed digital signal than more traditional cables, though the omission of a second port is a disappointment.
Fear, probably my favourite game of the year that opened my eyes to what can be achieved with what was a stale genre, has had an expansion pack announced by Sierra Entertainment. ‘Extraction Point’ is thought to logically pick up where the original finished and is expected to be a link to a sequel that is surely going to follow. New locations, weapons and enemies….. my mouth is watering already. Bring on the previews at E3!
