On January 2, 2012 the Facebook timeline was released causing a lot of concerns and criticism among users. It was obligatory to use, but now Facebook announced that eventually all Facebook users will be ‘forced’ to use it, whether they want to or not.
Why do I need this?
The new feature of Facebook, the timeline, automatically categorizes your activities and posts according to the year it happened. Visitors to your profile can easily check what happened in 2009 and when you graduated from school or started working for your new employer. It even shows your date of birth. In other words, as Facebook puts it: “…you can tell your story from beginning, to middle, to now.” They just forgot to add: Whether you want it or not.
When I was first bombarded with the advertisement of Facebook for the new feature, I felt overwhelmed and confused. My entire screen was filled with a huge chaotic ‘thing’ and a nice and soothing video to watch (see video above). But I failed to see the sense of it. I checked some of my friends’ profiles to see whether they had started using it yet, but it seemed that others had been left with the same confusion. However, this quickly changed and more and more of my friends started using the new feature. When I checked their profiles with the timelines, I still felt the same; confused, bewildered and baffled. I quickly decided that I did not want to use it.
But then Facebook announced that in a few weeks every profile would be changed to use the timeline, without choice, leaving us with seven days to change our privacy settings (once again I might add). Seven days to hide, delete and organize our posts. But do I have a choice? Not really.
I could leave Facebook, an action that is not really possible either, as it is very complicated to delete the profile. And the technological part is not the only reason. Facebook has managed to integrate itself into our lives so deeply that it feels impossible for me to leave the social network without leaving me with the feeling that I am missing out on something. Which leaves me with no choice, but to accept it and refuse using it until I am forced to it. And Facebook knows that I will do this.
In December, Facebook had 845 million monthly active users of whom it is unclear how many use the new timeline. I can only compare it on a personal scale. Of my 218 friends, only 73 use the new timeline. And do not forget: This is done on a voluntary basis. So, why should me and my other 145 friends be forced into using it if we do not wish so?
Because Facebook can!
Sources:
Facebook. (2012). Introducing Timeline. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from facebook.com: http://www.facebook.com/about/timeline
Gilmer, J. C. (2011). Facebook Timeline. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from huebris.com: http://huebris.com/facebook-timeline/
Author: Paulserjeant1 Published: February 21st, 2012
The iPhone 4S: A revolutionary new media experience
Enjoying the improved features of the iPhone
Apple has recently released the iPhone 4S under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook. The 4S is the latest in the series of its cellphone range. It is said to be the latest new development of cellphone technology, incorporating the revolutionary new iOS operating system, the most advanced mobile phone operating system ever, responsible for creating the revolutionary new media user experience that is sealing Apple’s status as the front-runner in the market.
The iPhone 4 S includes all of the basic capabilities of the previous iPhone, the iPhone4, with all of the same apps and software such as iCloud for management of music, photos, videos and documents, for example. There are, however, some major new innovations that have furthered the capabilities of what has come before. One example of this is Siri, the revolutionary new voice command system for operation of the phones utilities. The technology is so advanced that it can not only recognize and understand the words and phrases that are spoken to it, but can also understand the meanings behind human speech and interpret them logically and appropriately in order to perform various and numerous ‘hands-free’ commands.
The iPhone 4S uses the new dual-core A5 chip, which is the fastest processor technology currently available in any of the models on the market. It brings the benefits of increased graphics capabilities with smoother gameplay, app usage, faster speeds and even an increased battery life, this revolutionary new hardware can be considered as responsible for pushing new media to its highest and most effective levels of usability yet. The ‘retina’ HD display that comes as standard with this model provides extremely high definition, which further increases the user experience of applications and the iCloud photo and movie viewing software.
One of the most pronounced product improvements of the iPhone 4S from the predecessor versions is the built in camera/video camera. The innovative new design has allowed the incorporation of an f/2.4 aperture sight. Furthermore, the improved backlight sensor, colour correction software and anti-blur motion sensors provide crystal clear quality and 8 megapixel or 1080p high definition, as much as 160% of the definition that was possible with the iPhone 4.
It is needless to say that with all of the innovative and revolutionary incorporations, this model of the iPhone is truly the most advanced piece of equipment in its market. It is one of the most fully integrated and user-friendly new media technologies available on the mass market and is certainly a forerunner in the field of competition of smart phones with competition such as the Nokia N8-00, the HTC Evo 3D and the Blackberry Bold 9900, for example.
Leeuwarden – Kwam Sup Lee, vicepresident Marketing en Strategy bij LG, beweert dat twintig procent van alle verkochte televisies in 2012 een 3D-tv zal zijn. Dit zegt hij op de International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), een beurs waar gadgets en media-innovaties centraal staan.
Op deze beurs kondigde LG bovendien een aantal nieuwe 3D-tv’s aan, zestig procent van de televisies van LG is momenteel al een 3D-tv. Veel bedrijven zullen volgens Lee volgen in deze trend. Het percentage 3D-tv’s groeide al van vier procent in 2010 tot twaalf procent in 2011. Vorig jaar werden er in totaal ongeveer 25 miljoen televisies met 3D-ondersteuning verkocht.
Lee vertelt ook dat de prijs van een 3D-tv steeds aantrekkelijker zal worden voor de consument, hij verwacht dat prijzen het komende jaar met twintig procent zullen dalen. Desalniettemin zal de opkomst van de 3D-tv niet vlekkeloos verlopen, momenteel is het gebrek aan 3D-aanbod een grote barrière.
LG was aan het eind van vorig jaar marktleider met maar liefst twintig procent van de 3D-tvmarkt in handen. Lee is optimistisch over het komende jaar, aangezien het aandeel van concurrenten Samsung en Sony daalt. Lee stelt dat het haalbaar is om aan het eind van 2012 30 procent van de markt in handen te hebben.
Hier vind je meer informatie over de strijd tussen LG, Samsung en Sony.
Bron:
Van Hoek, C. (2012). ‘Een op de vijf tv’s dit jaar 3D’. Geraadpleegd op 18 januari 2012 via http://www.nu.nl/gadgets/2716159/een-vijf-tvs-jaar-3d.html
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