Note: This column represents the opinions
of the writer and as such, is not represented as fact
|
At last,
the contents of Aardvark's "million-dollar ideas" notebook
are revealed for all to see!
|
|
Yesterday's column set an all-time record for the amount of feedback received
(Sky TV please take note!).
Just as importantly, not a single reader said they found the extra features
offered by the new software to be worth the performance trade-off. If Sky TV
really do believe that there are still 199,950 satisfied users out there then
they are fooling nobody but themselves!
The NZ Herald is carrying
a short piece
on the issue in today's edition which contains a clear indicator
that things aren't going to get any better. Terry O'Brien told the Herald
that it was unlikely the service would be as fast as the one it replaced
because of the additional information it provided.
Need Cutting-Edge Copy?
As NZ's longest-running online commentator, I'm looking for
extra syndication opportunities for this daily publication -- or I'm happy
to write casual or regular material specifically to order for print or
Net-based publications. If you're
interested, drop me a line
|
|
What a crock! I see no more information available on the electronic programme
guide -- the main area of complaint for most people. And what extra
information do you seen when changing channels at the newly forced snail's pace?
No, come on Sky, fess-up. You've goofed big-time on this one. Your greed has
overpowered your commonsense and someone needs their backside kicked
big-time. No more excuses -- give us back the usability we used to have and
put your "improvements" where the sun don't shine -- or at least give users the
option of having the old or new system.
So, what can you do if you've been frustrated to death by Sky's couldn't-care-less
attitude to its customers? Where can you go to get something other than
free-to-air TV, or movies on video and DVD?
In the USA, cable TV is the answer -- a service that is so cheap for broadcasters
it has created a whole culture of community, special-interest and "Wayne's World"
type content. Unfortunately, here in New Zealand only an extremely tiny
portion of the population is serviced by cable -- and even then it's too
expensive for anyone other than the mainstream broadcasters to use.
But hang on -- what about this Internet thing? What ever happened to the
promise that the Internet would enable anyone and everyone who wanted to -- the
freedom to become an independent radio or TV broadcaster?
What's wrong with fostering some of our great (and not so great) local talent
with a view to creating more streamed video content on the web?
Okay -- I'll admit that watching a jerky, grainy, postage-stamp-sized picture
streaming at 33Kbps on your TV screen is not really entertainment and it's no
match for Sky TV in terms of technical quality. But isn't this what broadband
is for?
Oh hang on -- I forgot -- broadband will send you bankrupt if you use it to watch
any significant amount of quality streaming video -- but why should it?
When I ran my piece last week on XTRA's JetStart service -- I was told by
several readers that the main reason we don't have a true flat-rate broadband
service in NZ, and the reason that you end up paying by the megabyte is because
the cost of international bandwidth is still incredibly high.
Okay -- maybe this is true -- but why then are most broadband providers
charging the same steep volume rates for local traffic? -- data that
never passes over that expensive new cable.
Why can't they provide flat-rate broadband access for local (served from
within New Zealand) content?
If accessing local streaming media through broadband was charged at a flat rate
then I think we'd have a win-win situation.
Wannabe kiwi broadcasters would suddenly find it economically feasible to
start producing and streaming content for a local audience.
Net users would suddenly have some broadband content they could access without
worrying about a ten thousand dollar Internet bill at the end of the month.
The broadband providers would find that the combination of flat-rate
pricing for local data and the growing availability of local broadband content
would be incentive for more people to switch from dial-up to faster offerings.
Quite frankly, I can't see any downside in such a setup.
Of course we'd likely end up with a huge percentage of atrociously amateur
material streaming to the masses -- but that's the nature of such a medium --
and for every dozen or so really bad offerings, there's bound to be a gem
or two as well. (Does anyone remember Crunchie The Clown from the ill-fated
MaxTV? What about the Grocer-E episode? Hillarious local content
produced on a shoestring).
Long-time Aardvark readers will recall that several years ago, I was involved
in the presenting of NZ Net-News, a locally produced weekly Internet News
streaming video programme produced by former TV3 reporter Scott Mathias. This
is the type of content that I'm sure we could revive if local broadband wasn't
hog-tied by volume charging.
Imagine it -- flat rate local DSL offering you ability to tune in an
ever-increasing range of local near-VHS-quality streams. That sounds
like a pretty damned good alternative to throwing the Sky TV remote against
the wall, yet again.
Even Helen Clark might be interested in this idea -- after all, it would
allow a significant area of the performing arts (including garage bands,
amateur film/video artists, etc) to deliver their content to a good sized
audience at a very low cost. Who knows, perhaps NZ On Air might finally
have to acknowledge that audio and video over the Net is worthy of its
funding.
Of course this simply won't fly until the broadband suppliers take the bold
step of realising that local DSL should be flat rate and that the streaming
of such content should be fostered rather than seen as yet another cash-cow.
Unfortunately, I don't see Telecom opting to make local traffic free on their
DSL service any time soon -- after all, who else are you going to buy your
DSL service from?
Just like Sky -- they don't have to worry about whether the customer is getting
a good deal, or even happy with the service -- because they're the only game in
town.
However, if Telecom are interested in reassessing their broadband charges and
fostering the growth of local broadband content -- I invite them to drop me a line.
I've been speaking to someone who'd just love to get such an initiative started.
The Globe.Net.nz Hack
As reported yesterday in the breaking-news section, Globe.net.nz's website
was hacked yesterday.
It seems they were using a very old version of Linux which probably made the
hackers job a whole lot easier.
According to information I've received, the hacker was a local,
from Timaru, and the Police are showing a strong interest in his activities.
Stay tuned.
Hey, Christmas Is The Time For Giving
Every month, Aardvark scores over half a million hits, at least 150K page views and
delivers more than 6GB of data to visitors.
All this traffic has meant that I've had to shift the site to a new server
to ensure that your daily dose is always fresh and delivered to your
browser with minimal delays.
I also invest over 300 hours per year writing the daily column and compiling
the day's news index -- all for your illumination and entertainment.
If you haven't sent any money to help offset the costs of running this
ad-free, 100% Kiwi, always fresh, often controversial site then you can give
yourself the warm-fuzzies this Christmas by doing so now.
Just drop by, click on the Aardvark, and
hand over your loot.
Add Aardvark To Your Own Website!
Got a moment? Want a little extra fresh content for your own website or
page?
Just add a
couple of lines of JavaScript
to your pages and you can get
a free summary of Aardvark's daily commentary -- automatically updated
each and every week-day.
Aardvark also makes a summary of this daily column available via XML using
the RSS format. More details can be found
here.
Contact me if you decide to use either of these feeds and
have any problems.
|
Did you tell someone else about Aardvark today? If not then do it
now!
|
|
There are new Vacancies Last added 2 Oct In The Job Centre
There are 14 Domain Names for sale
| 
= open in new window