Giovanni's blog

Ads on Video Clips at YouTube

as if we didn't expect this, video advertising is coming to YouTube. but it's not the typical pre-roll or post-roll we've come to expect. beginning today, YouTube is featuring semitransparent "overlay" ads at the bottom of selected video clips. The ad will be displayed for about 10 seconds if the viewer does nothing. If the viewer clicks on the overlay, the video will be paused and the full ad wiill be launched. YouTube s is trying to avoid pre-rolls like Revver, MSN, FoxNews, and The associated Press video news service uses. according to YouTube, internal tests show more than 70 percent of people give up when they see a pre-roll. by contrast, less than 10 percent decide to close an overlay, which they can exit by clicking on an "X" in a corner.

iJustine (Justine Ezarik) Moves a Mountain with Social Media

Justing Ezarik, Or "The Internet" as she's known to friends has moved a mountain with a video she created in a noisy Pittsburgh coffee shop that lasts just over 1 minute. You see, Justine received her first phone bill from aT&T for her new iPhone in the amount of $237.00! The bill included some set up fees and toll charges, but nevertheless, SHE WaS OUTRaGED! In no way did she expect to have such a large bill from the telecom giant for new apple gadget. No, that's not what happened... Here, this is what happened: Now, Justine L-O-V-E-S apple. She dreams of Steve Jobs and writes things like "Justine Jobs" and "iJustine" in her diary. She is happy with her service from at&t. She just thought it was VERY funny that she got a 300 page phone bill. Frankly, who wouldn't? Well, the dolts from aT&T media relations wouldn't. after Justine's video got airplay on no less than FoxNews, CNN, NPR and countless local television news and print outlets, I heard an interview with one communications rep from at&t being interviewed on NPR who was actually acting like everyone was making a big deal out of nothing. "We always have provided a very detailed billing for our customers. There's nothing new about this." Smart. You "get it" don't you, at&t cog. So on the way to the local coffee house today, about 1 week after Justine's video hit youtube, revver, viddler, et al, I get the following text message on my iPhone: "aT&T free msg: We are simplifying your paper bill, removing the itemized detail. To view all detail, go to att.com/mywireless. Still need the full paper bill? Call 611." Someone needs to buy Justine a coffee/beer the next time you see her. Well done, Internet. :-)

iPhone bill

iJustine - With One Reason Why Geeks are Sexy

iJustine (Justine Ezarik) with one reason why geeks are sexy. For more reasons why geeks are sexy, go to xTrain.com and download their free design and development video training classes!

Taping Social Media Classes

OK, we're getting ready to begin taping the social media classes for xTrain and I'm running in fumes. I now know how Justine felt on her first day here last week. It's frankly, very yucky.

Social Media with iJustine for xTrain.com

Well done

http://www.coffeetravelers.com my kinda peeps.

When bloggers Say No to a Simple Chat

When Wired magazine writer Fred Vogelstein set out to write a story about a Silicon Valley blogger, Mike arrington, he figured he would do what virtually every professional journalist does—interview key people, either face to face or by telephone. It's the acid-tested methodology of reporters everywhere. but in this case, simply by making the request that newspaper and magazine scribes make thousands of times a day, Vogelstein found himself in the middle of a controversy that's challenging the utility, the accuracy and the very morality of the real-time interview.

Here is what happened to Vogelstein when he sought his interviews. First, blog entrepreneur Jason Calacanis told him he would not speak to him, but answer questions only by e-mail, something Vogelstein wouldn't agree to. Then, blogging pioneer Dave Winer told him he would not be interviewed by phone. He suggested that Vogelstein e-mail questions that he would then answer publicly on his blog, a solution for which Vogelstein had even less enthusiasm.

Read the full story.........

Photosynth Demo

I'm sure some of you have heard about this but I thought it was too cool not to post.

Using photos of oft-snapped subjects (like Notre Dame) scraped from around the Web, Photosynth creates breathtaking multidimensional spaces with zoom and navigation features that outstrip all expectation. Its architect, blaise aguera y arcas, shows it off in this standing-ovation demo. Curious about that speck in corner? Dive into a freefall and watch as the speck becomes a gargoyle. With an unpleasant grimace. and an ant-sized chip in its lower left molar. "Perhaps the most amazing demo I've seen this year," wrote Ethan Zuckerman, after TED2007. Indeed, Photosynth might utterly transform the way we manipulate and experience digital images.

Photosynth Demo

Photosynth Demo

I'm sure some of you have heard about this but I thought it was too cool not to post.

Using photos of oft-snapped subjects (like Notre Dame) scraped from around the Web, Photosynth creates breathtaking multidimensional spaces with zoom and navigation features that outstrip all expectation. Its architect, blaise aguera y arcas, shows it off in this standing-ovation demo. Curious about that speck in corner? Dive into a freefall and watch as the speck becomes a gargoyle. With an unpleasant grimace. and an ant-sized chip in its lower left molar. "Perhaps the most amazing demo I've seen this year," wrote Ethan Zuckerman, after TED2007. Indeed, Photosynth might utterly transform the way we manipulate and experience digital images.

Photosynth Demo