Technology convergence: internet, entertainment & communication

Google has been in the news quite often of late.

One moment, they are swallowing up the public domain book library. Another moment, they are acquiring something or another… but one thing’s for sure Google has made the internet business work through their advertising revenue model. To date, Google is hoarding up a cash pile of more than a few billion dollars.

Yup. They are that successful. So what next for Google? No doubt some sort of buying spree will ensue. Naturally, this has to be something which Google can continue to add value to its business. So what would that be?

I don’t know, but what about an entertainment / media content based business? The success of the iTunes audio and video downloads shows that there is a market. And the recent “agreement” between the bittorrent community and Hollywood, could possible pave a way for commercial film downloads. What about Google and TiVo?

There are more technology news on this website accessible via the world news link at the top menu.

Apple iPod Video makes waves

Apple iPod

If you’d browse my World News feeds (look for it on the top menu) you’d find some news of my own selection. One interesting news is iPod selling a million videos in 20 days. This is perhaps an important piece of news for the likes of aspiring online media companies. Currently the you can buy & download music videos and TV series like “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” for $1.99 a piece. Not sure how big the one million downloads is in relation to the size of the iPod market.

The iPod is fast becoming an insanely great product from Apple. Competitors and aspirants need to scramble quickly to get a slice of the market pie before Apple or some other player controls the market. I believe even our own local players can get in the game.

check out the slide show.

Wonderful things you can do with 3D

Sometime ago I was smitten by 3D modelling using Creative Labs’ Poser. Now in its 6th incarnation, I find Poser something which is still beyond my reach, comprehension and skills. Not that Poser is a difficult 3D tool – I doubt it given the many users – but it is more about me not being able to get the hand of it.

Nevertheless, there are lots of good stuffs out there, as I continue to find:

  1. DAZ3d – this is a high quality resource for Poser 3D models. It contents some highly developed models of people, animals and objects.
  2. then there is Renderosity – which is a marketplace of free and commercial stuff for 3D apps the likes of Poser and Bryce et al
  3. for the more risque (yeah, wink wink), you can go to Renderotica for your fix