Steve Jobs to get a Grammy. In making the announcement, the Academy said, “As former CEO and co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs helped create products and technology that transformed the way we consume music, TV, movies, and books. A creative visionary, Jobs’ innovations such as the iPod and its counterpart, the online iTunes store, revolutionized the industry and how music was distributed and purchased. In 2002 Apple Computer Inc. was a recipient of a Technical Grammy Award for contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field. The company continues to lead the way with new technology and in-demand products such as the iPhone and iPad.”
All true, but disingenuous at best. It is just another cynical public relations stunt by an industry seeped in hypocrisy.
Look at the facts. Does anyone remember how Steve Jobs had to drag the labels into iTunes kicking and screaming? Prior to iTunes, Sony Music septuagenarian CEO Doug Morris, then CEO of Universal Music, called iPods “repositories for stolen music”. They called Jobs “pigheaded” and Machiavellian. Once the industry woke up to Apple’s business model, they cried like babies over not getting a cut of iPod sales. Genius Doug Morris got everyone together to teach Jobs a lesson and start their own digital initiative, Total Music (not exactly a household brand name today). They hated Steve Jobs.
As the digital age has matured, labels have bent over backward to protect their iTunes revenues while simultaneously chafing under the strong arm of Apple. Jobs didn’t invent anything. Digital music services existed before iTunes. So did MP3 players. Jobs’ talent was in making these, and other, products so much better. He didn’t invent the mobile phone but the iPhone is now the gold standard. Same with computers and tablets. Soon TVs?
If the Academy wanted to honor the actual pioneers of digital music they’d be giving an award to Michael Robertson or Diamond, the manufacturers of the first portable mp3 player. The industry chose to sue them at the time. Michael Robertson was the guy who popularized the MP3 format and was even the first to launch music in the cloud. But Michael isn’t dead yet and the industry enjoys suing him too much to give him credit for anything.
Steve Jobs getting a “special Grammy.” A special honor for the guy that every label hated. An award for the guy who held the industry in a stranglehold for years. A man they all cursed and whined about.So do you think that this is just a big publicity gimmick.
Wednesday 28 December 2011
Monday 25 July 2011
High Voltage 2011 - Sunday
Love Fungus ... I saw James May and thought this could be a laugh, but he wasn't in the band. They started playing then the singer opened his mouth and the noise had the same impact as standing next to someone with terminal halitosis. We reeled backward (almost spilt my pint) and headed for Metal Stage.
They were that good, we headed for the Prog Rock Stage. To be fare they weren't that bad it was just that someone had suggested we see Pallas!
Not sure I'll be taking suggestions from them again. Anyway headed off to see a favorite band of mine Heaven's Basement. I'd first seen these at the Bar Fly in Camden early in 2009. Different line up now sound similar sing some of the same songs but different. I have to admit that while I like'd the voice of the original lead singer this new guy puts so much energy into it I hope it comes good for them.
I saw them earlier this year doing an acoustic set (Download in the rain) The lead singer wore a Led Zep T shirt and the wove some Pink Floyed into the tunes - with pedigrees like that ...
Anyway after that (via the real ale tent) to Metal Stage to see The Treatment.. Talk about nostalgia!
This was like watching the Heaven's basement from two years ago. The two lead guitars, the talent and the long climb. There are several bands out there called the Treatment including a very good Brummy blues band so be careful if you look for them.
Gentlemen's Pistols were next on the Metal Stage. Probably the best Metal/Hammer band I saw this weekend.
No wonder I was thirsty all this walking --- back to the Main Stage for Michael Schenker
There is no pleasing some people and I fond it totally underwhelming. Some nice (very nice) bits but as a set it had all the right ingredients but...
And then Thunder - A bit older but somehow fresher for the break. An absolutely 5* performance.
Also saw Black Country Communion - a band I need to here more of.
Finally headed off to see a bit of Jethro Tull. I'm not a great lover of Mr Tull's work, but he has produced pieces that are amongst may favourites and I hadn't seen him live. He didn't disappoint, but I think all the walking (and possibly the beer) had taken its toll and I headed off before the end.
High Voltage 2011 - Saturday
Was it better than last year? In some ways yes, in others no!
Lest start on the positives - the real ale tent. So popular, they struggled to keep up with demand.
Excellent range of ales. Some I wont try again but others I'd go an extra mile or two for. They even had men wandering around selling Hobgoblin from barrels on their back. It didn't make sense that these hovered around the real ale tent in stead of wandering down to the main stage! Anyway it was far better than last year and I managed to sup 19 pints over two days, compared to about 8 last year.
Food - The variety was good. The staples: sausages, burgers etc and some Caribbean, Mexican selections and not forgetting the Ginsters pasty stall.
Having revealed I sunk 19 pints there is no surprise that the availability of XXL T shirts also struck a positive note compared to last year. There was more seating outside the bar tents too. In fact ignoring the music this was like a good natured fate.
Attendance was obviously down on last year and that was probably due to a less compelling line up of bands. The metal stage was one that I thought suffered.
Before I go on to the music, I think it is worth noting that this time next year will be right at the start of the Olympics. If there is a High Voltage in 2012 it will be at a different time, or a different location, or maybe both...My suggestion is West London - Epsom downs - well away from the Olympics so no impact on transport, might attract a new audience, Only problem will be finding the port-a-loo's, I understand there will be shortage at this time.
So on to the music...
I may have missed some stunning performances but here is what I though of what I did see.
First up was Michael Monroe. Not a band I had heard before but OK,
OK in the sense that I would listen to them again, but not good enough to make me want to rush out and get a copy of there output. And just to show it was really rock and roll, he pulled the anarchistic climb the stage stunt.
Next up SKIN. A much more passionate performance that started to get those rock juices flowing.
For our 4th pint we decided it was too far to walk back to the real ale tent, so opted to buy a pint of larger. My friend (his round) can't help chatting to the ladies and so it was, while queueing for a beer.
Waited for the start of Queensryche but wasn't expecting to be impressed and wasn't disappointed. So headed off to the Metal Stage via the Ace Cafe tent - This has got to be the hidden gem. I have not been disappointed with the talent that they have managed to put on last year and this. Not always my cup of tea, but the talent is undeniable. No programme so I don'y know who I saw.
Via the real ale tent we arrived at the Metal Stage and caught the end of Ravens Creed
To tell the truth there were hints of metal in their set but this was very much a good rock band. A well polished set. The singer worked the audience and everyone was taking part. Someone had recommended them to me. I must remember to thank them. I have already got their latest album. If they hadn't have been that good I'd have made it for Thin Lizzy. As it was I was happy to catch the end on the Main Stage.
Thin Lizzy a well practiced performance, that because of its classic set, was simply good fun.
We headed for the real ale beer tent, but yet again as we passed the Ace Cafe tent and were drawn in to the strange world of Arthur Brown
Lest start on the positives - the real ale tent. So popular, they struggled to keep up with demand.
Excellent range of ales. Some I wont try again but others I'd go an extra mile or two for. They even had men wandering around selling Hobgoblin from barrels on their back. It didn't make sense that these hovered around the real ale tent in stead of wandering down to the main stage! Anyway it was far better than last year and I managed to sup 19 pints over two days, compared to about 8 last year.
Food - The variety was good. The staples: sausages, burgers etc and some Caribbean, Mexican selections and not forgetting the Ginsters pasty stall.
Having revealed I sunk 19 pints there is no surprise that the availability of XXL T shirts also struck a positive note compared to last year. There was more seating outside the bar tents too. In fact ignoring the music this was like a good natured fate.
Attendance was obviously down on last year and that was probably due to a less compelling line up of bands. The metal stage was one that I thought suffered.
Before I go on to the music, I think it is worth noting that this time next year will be right at the start of the Olympics. If there is a High Voltage in 2012 it will be at a different time, or a different location, or maybe both...My suggestion is West London - Epsom downs - well away from the Olympics so no impact on transport, might attract a new audience, Only problem will be finding the port-a-loo's, I understand there will be shortage at this time.
So on to the music...
I may have missed some stunning performances but here is what I though of what I did see.
First up was Michael Monroe. Not a band I had heard before but OK,
OK in the sense that I would listen to them again, but not good enough to make me want to rush out and get a copy of there output. And just to show it was really rock and roll, he pulled the anarchistic climb the stage stunt.
For our 4th pint we decided it was too far to walk back to the real ale tent, so opted to buy a pint of larger. My friend (his round) can't help chatting to the ladies and so it was, while queueing for a beer.
Then came Rival Sons. Each band was better than the last.. or was that the beer working! No definitely very good. If you haven't heard them then you need too ASAP
Via the real ale tent we arrived at the Metal Stage and caught the end of Ravens Creed
Ravens Creed stereotypical metal band. Lost of gruff shouting and everything being beaten to make as much noise as possible, with the base/drum/lead interjection. Not much more to add.
Then Trigger Finger.. Metal Stage? How many Metal band have you seen in a three piece suite?
To tell the truth there were hints of metal in their set but this was very much a good rock band. A well polished set. The singer worked the audience and everyone was taking part. Someone had recommended them to me. I must remember to thank them. I have already got their latest album. If they hadn't have been that good I'd have made it for Thin Lizzy. As it was I was happy to catch the end on the Main Stage.
We headed for the real ale beer tent, but yet again as we passed the Ace Cafe tent and were drawn in to the strange world of Arthur Brown
I do like a bit of prog rock and this hit all the buttons form me. This was one of the highlights of High Voltage 2011.
We headed back to the main stage to catch Judas Priest which we probably would have stayed at apart from two things 1 - it wasn't that good, 2 - I'd heard that Electric Wizard had been caught up in the Norwegian bomb and shootings and that Rival Sons where going to do another set.
Not a completely new set, but I only noticed two from the set they did early and they were so much better on the smaller stage. They looked more comfortable and they worked like a well oiled machine.
Some 11 pints down, we tottered off home ahead of the main crowd.
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Hollywood studios grasping at straws
The Hollywood studios are taking BT to court. The issue at stake is should BT (and other ISP’s) block users accessing sites that enable piracy. For me the resounding answer is no. Why? The internet is an open network – like the road network people can travel around visit places without some big brother watching what you are doing. You may think that blocking certain sites is all they need to do, but the reality is these sites will reappear with different name and covers. So in order to discover the new sites they will watch what you are doing. The idea is like getting the local authority, that build your roads, to stop you going to a market that sells pirated DVDs.
The sad thing is that the studios see piracy as the reason for the massive fall in sales yet the reality is consumer behaviour is changing with the multiple ways to access and consume content. On-demand services are in their infancy as are connected TV and connected set-top-boxes (STB). So why are people not buying DVD or Bluray Disks (BD). Could it be Hollywood has run out of ideas?
New films are not telling stories consumers want? The global financial slowdown is making people spend less? The existing libraries of DVD/BD that consumers have, is good enough? Could it be that Digital Video Recorders (DVR) enable easy recording of broadcast content, so that when there is nothing good on there is always something on the PVR? And to top it all off, unlike VHS tapes these alternatives don’t wear out and display the content as good as broadcast TV or better.
I would not be surprised if pirate web sites have seen a fall in demand too!
The current consumers of Hollywood content have grown up with computers, broadband and multitasking. They have a short attention span and why watch something again when there is something new. They need to show through their online social network, that they are up with the latest and new.
These are the issues that Hollywood needs to understand and address. UV is also not the answer…
The sad thing is that the studios see piracy as the reason for the massive fall in sales yet the reality is consumer behaviour is changing with the multiple ways to access and consume content. On-demand services are in their infancy as are connected TV and connected set-top-boxes (STB). So why are people not buying DVD or Bluray Disks (BD). Could it be Hollywood has run out of ideas?
New films are not telling stories consumers want? The global financial slowdown is making people spend less? The existing libraries of DVD/BD that consumers have, is good enough? Could it be that Digital Video Recorders (DVR) enable easy recording of broadcast content, so that when there is nothing good on there is always something on the PVR? And to top it all off, unlike VHS tapes these alternatives don’t wear out and display the content as good as broadcast TV or better.
I would not be surprised if pirate web sites have seen a fall in demand too!
The current consumers of Hollywood content have grown up with computers, broadband and multitasking. They have a short attention span and why watch something again when there is something new. They need to show through their online social network, that they are up with the latest and new.
These are the issues that Hollywood needs to understand and address. UV is also not the answer…
Tuesday 24 May 2011
TV Channel Loyalty
The royal wedding gave a chance, in the UK, to assess the impact of customer loyalty and the voice over on viewing, given that virtually identical pictures were shown on most of the flagship channels, including BBC1, ITV1 and Sky News. BBC1 took 73.7% of the total audience with 18.9 million viewers, with ITV1 a distant second on 22% at 5.9 million, while Sky News only managed 2.5%, or 661,000. This showed the continuing loyalty to the longstanding terrestrial broadcasters, BBC and ITV, when content is not at issue.
Content is king unless all the content is the same... It just shows that if Sky lost the Football they would be up a creak without a paddle.
Content is king unless all the content is the same... It just shows that if Sky lost the Football they would be up a creak without a paddle.
Thursday 12 May 2011
Content Connect and Net Neutrality
Net neutrality as a principle is a great ideal for the Internet. It is well known that nature abhors a vacuum. In the same way big business (and government) abhor free open communication. All from Google to Microsoft to News Corp and Disney would like to control and shape how you use the internet so they can make money out of your activity. Even in the early days some built “walled gardens” to keep their customers and their content inside and earning them money. Does AOL still exist?
Anyway the point is that where business and governments see consumers and voter gathering they are inexorably draw to it. There is therefore a need to be vigilant to ensure the Internet remains free and open. However, is BT’s Content Connect part of this pressure to control the Internet? The simple answer is “not in itself” it will depend on how ISP’s use it.
So what is Content Connect? It’s a Video only UK only CDN. CDN’s (Content Distribution Networks) have been around for a few years. Initially they evolved because the Internet is not very good at streaming video (live or on demand). You will probably have gone to a web page and watched as the various elements (pictures, text and menus) are built up over a few seconds. This especially noticeable at busy times and when the source site is a long way away. The page being built element by element as it arrives does not hinder your experience of the web page. The order in which the elements arrive is irrelevant as long as the whole page is built in a reasonable time. If a packet of data is lost in the internet it is simply requested again and slotted into the right place on the page.
Video is not so simple. Each image needs to arrive in the right order or a buffer needs to be built which allows missing images to be resent and slotted into the buffer before it is played to the screen. The internet is a collection of networks “Interconnected”.
One of the things that the internet does fairy regularly is through way data it can’t manage within a set time. In the text, and even with pictures, this is not too much of a problem. However, in video, where a 30 minute Standard Definition programme is the equivalent of 78,000 e-mails, As video has grew and core network congestion increased more packets tend to get thrown away. Resulting in extremely poor video jerky, blocky and constant rebuffering.
CDN were invented. These provided tunnels through the internet or separate networks to take the content from the Content Service Provider (CSP) to the End Use (EU). Therefore net neutrality in its purest sense had gone. CSP paid the CDN to deliver the content. The CDN would also cache the video local to the EU so that any subsequent request for the video was served from the cache and not the origin giving the CSP a saving on their bandwidth. There are other benefits from using CDN for another time maybe.
The CDN caches usually placed just outside or just inside the local ISP network and therefore solved the congestion on the core internet. As video use over the internet continues to grow and games consoles, connected TV and Set Top Boxes make it easier (friendlier) to consume video congestion in the local ISP is becoming a problem. ISP could buy more bandwidth but that is a cost with no revenue. They could charge consumers more for their broadband service but a) not all end users are watching video so one would be cross subsidising the other b) in the UK ISP competes on cost with most consumers comparing ISP on bandwidth costs. Therefore it will be a brave ISP that makes the consumer pay.
Content Connect moves the CDN cache further into the ISP’s network (not all ISP’s are compatible with Content Connect) reducing their bandwidth costs and giving more reliable video streams. Content Connect also allows CSP to mark video with a higher quality of service (QoS). If the CSP has an agreement with the ISP, the ISP can practise the video stream to that End User.
What is that agreement between the ISP and the CSP? This has not been determined but if the End User has just bought the latest Hollywood movie part of the payment to the CSP would go to the ISP to deliver it. Others within the household might see there “normal” internet traffic slow down but the neighbours would be unaffected. So while the network is no longer neutral in its purest sense it is no worse than it already is with the existing CDN’s. The ability to prioritise traffic is potentially determined by the consumer. I can think of other ways to use Content Connect that would not be determined by the consumer and it is the implementation and not the technology itself that we need to be vigilant about.
Anyway the point is that where business and governments see consumers and voter gathering they are inexorably draw to it. There is therefore a need to be vigilant to ensure the Internet remains free and open. However, is BT’s Content Connect part of this pressure to control the Internet? The simple answer is “not in itself” it will depend on how ISP’s use it.
So what is Content Connect? It’s a Video only UK only CDN. CDN’s (Content Distribution Networks) have been around for a few years. Initially they evolved because the Internet is not very good at streaming video (live or on demand). You will probably have gone to a web page and watched as the various elements (pictures, text and menus) are built up over a few seconds. This especially noticeable at busy times and when the source site is a long way away. The page being built element by element as it arrives does not hinder your experience of the web page. The order in which the elements arrive is irrelevant as long as the whole page is built in a reasonable time. If a packet of data is lost in the internet it is simply requested again and slotted into the right place on the page.
Video is not so simple. Each image needs to arrive in the right order or a buffer needs to be built which allows missing images to be resent and slotted into the buffer before it is played to the screen. The internet is a collection of networks “Interconnected”.
One of the things that the internet does fairy regularly is through way data it can’t manage within a set time. In the text, and even with pictures, this is not too much of a problem. However, in video, where a 30 minute Standard Definition programme is the equivalent of 78,000 e-mails, As video has grew and core network congestion increased more packets tend to get thrown away. Resulting in extremely poor video jerky, blocky and constant rebuffering.
CDN were invented. These provided tunnels through the internet or separate networks to take the content from the Content Service Provider (CSP) to the End Use (EU). Therefore net neutrality in its purest sense had gone. CSP paid the CDN to deliver the content. The CDN would also cache the video local to the EU so that any subsequent request for the video was served from the cache and not the origin giving the CSP a saving on their bandwidth. There are other benefits from using CDN for another time maybe.
The CDN caches usually placed just outside or just inside the local ISP network and therefore solved the congestion on the core internet. As video use over the internet continues to grow and games consoles, connected TV and Set Top Boxes make it easier (friendlier) to consume video congestion in the local ISP is becoming a problem. ISP could buy more bandwidth but that is a cost with no revenue. They could charge consumers more for their broadband service but a) not all end users are watching video so one would be cross subsidising the other b) in the UK ISP competes on cost with most consumers comparing ISP on bandwidth costs. Therefore it will be a brave ISP that makes the consumer pay.
Content Connect moves the CDN cache further into the ISP’s network (not all ISP’s are compatible with Content Connect) reducing their bandwidth costs and giving more reliable video streams. Content Connect also allows CSP to mark video with a higher quality of service (QoS). If the CSP has an agreement with the ISP, the ISP can practise the video stream to that End User.
What is that agreement between the ISP and the CSP? This has not been determined but if the End User has just bought the latest Hollywood movie part of the payment to the CSP would go to the ISP to deliver it. Others within the household might see there “normal” internet traffic slow down but the neighbours would be unaffected. So while the network is no longer neutral in its purest sense it is no worse than it already is with the existing CDN’s. The ability to prioritise traffic is potentially determined by the consumer. I can think of other ways to use Content Connect that would not be determined by the consumer and it is the implementation and not the technology itself that we need to be vigilant about.
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