Off to the European Championships!

That's it for me for a week or so, I'll be heading for Austria and Innsbruck on Sunday, to watch a couple of games. Poland-Croatia in Klagenfurt on Monday should be interesting, even though Croatia are through thanks to the Austrian penalty last night. Poland, on the other hand, have everything to fight for.

On Wednesday we've got Russia-Sweden, and depending on how matches go this Saturday could be a make or break game for both teams. Swell.

We'll be staying in Möser close to Innsbruck, so I'll get to go running in the Alps for a bit. Only thing is the weather predictions - rain all week!

I'm off, bye!

8 hours of media consumption per day

I know I'm in the television and cross media business, and I should be thrilled that people are availing themselves of an increasing amount of media. I should, but in truth, I'm not.

A recent survey foretells that US citizens will consume an average of 8 hours of media per day by 2013. Of that, close to 50% will be traditional television, the rest web programming, games, DVD:s, mobile content etc.

The reason I'm not thrilled? I honestly believe that this is not the way to go. My firm belief is that we would need a healthy balance between entertainment and so-called Real Life. EIGHT HOURS per day spent consuming media means EIGHT HOURS less to live your own life, to meet people, to really DO SOMETHING, to create something MEANINGFUL... To be a human, not a consumer.

I realize I'm probably a hopeless romantic when it comes to this, but I would be quite happy to see what would happen would we turn off all television and Internet media, close all DVD-rentals etc for a week or two, and let people try to find out what they would do instead. I believe that media has its firm place in the world of man, but it shouldn't be the single most important thing by far.

Seeing as man in 99 cases out of 100 takes the easy way out - i.e. turns on the telly and wastes away - something else must happen. I hope it does.

3G iPhone , Geni, tv pilots and more...

... how to keep up? :)

Firstly, great news from Apple. The new and improved 3G iPhone is on its way, in an 8 Gb and an 16 Gb version. Moreover, we'll be looking at funky packages on offer by the operators - O2 in the UK, for instance, has some fairly attractive offers lined up. Goddamit, why did I go and buy a Nokia N95? Well, have to make do I guess.

Stumbled upon the nice little family tree / genealogy website called Geni, a handy tool for anyone who wants to get their family tree up and running. Fairly intuitive, easily managed, the possibility to go into great detail if necessary - it's all there. I like the "never shared, never spammed" motto they have on their opening page - on the other hand I am still a bit careful not to submit other peoples e-mail addresses, not even relatives. Facebook is sucky enough today, I don't need something else spamming everyone I care about.

I did promise to keep you up to date regarding the tv pilot we shot last week. It's now being edited and it's going to be really great! It's a football quiz show called Game On, and I'll give you all a link to a trailer for the format as soon as it's edited. Good feeling though, I believe that format can go places.

On another note, still slightly similar, I'll be heading off to Austria for the European Championships in football next Sunday. I'll watch Poland-Croatia and Russia-Sweden, so hopefully some great goals and a magical atmosphere, pretty please. Spain to win the tournament! Yes! Torres the scorer in the final. Double Yes!

I'm off to bed now. Last links though - if you want to understand what's going on in the world of economics, why the world is in a pretty shitty state at the moment in the economical sense and why it all is the fault of president Bush, look no further than the Calculated Risk blog or the insightful discussion on the Market Ticker Forum. You see, the world is changing, and not for the better, not with regards to economics. I will not mind the day when everything has to change because there is no more oil, but I believe some other people will mind. Just beware, and prepare, ok?

Until later.

Shooting pilots is fun

Today we'll be shooting a pilot for our football quiz show GAME ON. It's a really neat format, which gained a lot of attention at MIPTV this spring. Two teams compete, using a board game and their knowledge to score as many goals as possible. The scoring is live, they get to shoot penalties at a goalkeeper from the other team. All in all, should be an exciting day. Will keep you posted!

And the awards go to...

The Internet is a wonderful thing, especially if you find some people who really really use it to it's full potential. Have a look at the Webby Awards for a look at the best of the best at the moment. Kudos to Swedish ad agency Farfar - they look like a seriously creative and innovative bunch. If you at Farfar need someone to strengthen your team, let me know :)

My personal favourite? Well, I haven't yet looked through them all, but Cokes Happiness Factory is pretty neat.

Work environment

I've always heard it was important to have a good work environment. One where you could relax, feel comfortable and let the creative energy flow. I myself have a large window overlooking the sea, which is nice (but slightly annoying at times when I would rather go for a swim than work).

However, my workplace pales in comparison with Googles Zurich office. Mee too want a pool table and a firemans pole! Goddamit!

On the other hand - it could be worse.

Will now go and pressure bosses, perhaps I could get a pole like that installed. Somewhere. Ouch.

NILE 2008

Now, if you can't make it to Amsterdam as mentioned below, perhaps you'd like to join up for NILE 2008? I'm not really sure if I'm going yet - if I do I'd like to present some of the stuff we are doing - but as NILE stands for Narrative in Interactive Learning Environments I belive it touches upon the same ground we're working on at the moment. And with things like "Creative Learning by Designing Digital Board Games: Practicing deep-reading skills through game creation process" or "Learning through the Construction and Use of Intelligent Image Narratives" on the agenda, it might just be a bit interesting as well.

Edinburgh, early August (the time of the Edinburgh festival as well, so if the conference doesn't live up to your expectations, you can just go out for a beer or twelve instead :)

Out for a PICNIC?

If you're interested in cross media, in the latest findings and projects and in meeting company and research people from all over the world, you could do worse than attending PICNIC in Amsterdam in September. Topics include: The Global Mind, The Tupperware Economy, Almost Real (3D Cinema etc), Future Urban Spaces (How can we develop sustainable cities?) and Creative Leadership.

Lots of speakers as well. Should be a good thing! Perhaps we'll meet in Amsterdam later on!

Been a while

since i last updated this blog. Better start updating now agin, methinks.

Toyday, if you're going to read something, read this (in Swedish though!). A very comprehensive listing of the injustices the people behind The Pirate Bay have experienced in the hands of the Swedish juridical system. Quite appalling, if you think about it.

On another note, has there ever been a less exciting Champions League final than this one? ManU - Chelsea... Scum vs Arrogant Divas. Plah. I'll still watch it, though - hope both lose! :)

Now there is work to be done, so - until tomorrow!

Easter bunny came to visit

...and brought a lot of FLU!!

I do not like being ill. Not only does it sap all my strength and make me pretty miserable to live with, it also interferes with all plans made up by me and mine.

On the other hand, today was a beautiful winters day - a bit cold, but hey, better that way!

happy easter everyone, and have lots of chocolate eggs!

Woo

Skating on the sea is infinitely more fun than skating anywhere else. This kind of clear ice is a bit rare - wasn't the greatest though, more like 7½ out of 10, since it was fairly uneven sometimes.

I like to have the wind in the back as well, otherwise it'd been torture :)

Time to get going

Have you got an excellent idea for an iPTV concept? Well, then, you could do worse than entering Deutsche Telekoms iPTV competition with 1 million euros in prize money.

iPTV is gearing up, but I believe we should be looking at what can be done with iPTV that will set it apart from other means of television - regular, mobile or what have you.

Best of luck, and see you at the awards ceremony later on ;)

BTW - Deutsche Telekom, if anyone of you are reading this - the starter kit looks really really technologically heavy. Now, I know that it's important to know what ratios are possible to include, and that JPGs work but PNGs don't and suchlike. But please - do NOT scare away the creative minds too much! What you want are GOOD IDEAS! You do NOT want things that look good and fit all the technological requirements but are lacking in content!

If you need some consultation regarding this, you know where to find me :)

Hmmm, winter? spring? what's up Mother Nature?

This is the kind of weather we should be having 1½ MONTHS from now. Mid February should be the time of the year when we're all complaining about how cold it is, and when is spring coming along, and why do we live in this country.

I mean, look at this:





Honestly - melting snow and ice? a warm and nice sun? That's NOT Finland in February! Someone correct this AT ONCE!

Att utveckla det svenska språket

KLYSCH-HANGER (subst)

- En avart av den s.k. "cliffhangern", ofta använd inom film- och tv-industrin. Den kännetecknas av att den är så snarlik en oerhörd mängd tidigare cliffhangers att alla som ser den vet EXAKT vad som kommer att hända härnäst.

A truth

...one of many...

Most people sped most of their time doing things they wouldn't want to do, in order to be able to spend a little time doing things they want to do.

I'd like to spend a little time doing things I wouldn't really want to do, and a lot of time doing things I want to do.

Now, how to accomplish that?

Facebook, what evil lurks?

Well, having read through a lot of stuff about Facebook and their tracking system Beacon - which basically follows what you do on the Internet (not only what you do on Facebook!) and reports it back to Facebook, the disenchantment with Facebook is gathering pace rapidly over in this corner. I like the idea behind Facebook, and I think it has its uses - notably for finding friends you haven't talked to in ages... but at the same time, as a magazine here in Finland stated - "we've already trivialized love - now with Facebook, we're trivializing friendship."

Fortunately it's pretty easy to block Beacon - just follow this easy guide and you'll be safe. For now.

Skating on the sea...

... sorry for the quality of this clip, but as the only recording equipment I had on me was a Nokia 6630 with a 1.3 Mpix camera, this was the best I could do. Skating on the sea outside of Vasa, ice thickness about 5 cm. Windy but nice!

DVB-H or not DVB-H?

How much should a governmental body regulate the businessworld? That's a question lots of people - and governments and businesses alike - have been asking themselves throughout the ages. With regards to mobile tv, that question is being asked again, as the EU now puts its full (and considerable) weight behind the DVB-H standard for mobile tv broadcast.

This means that all 27 member states of the EU are required to support DVB-H and encourage the standard for mobile television. As can be imagined, the competition is less than excited - Korean standard DMB being one, Qualcomms Mediaflo another.

Still, rumours have it that not everyone is particularly happy with this resolution. BSkyB, for instance, are said to be eager to go with Mediaflo, despite EUs suggestions. So, there we are again - a world of competing standards. Don't you just love it? No, me neither.

To sell a format

Now, the television business is not an easy one. Lots of money moving around, for sure. But to break into that flow of money is more of a challenge.

When selling a television format, most buyers would like to see an episode, or even better, a whole series. They also like ratings and reviews - ratings (if high enough) a lot more than reviews, as a matter of fact.

That's why I lift my hat when reading todays news that Armoza Formats of Israel have sold their format "Revenge of the Geeks" to the US, UK, Holland, Poland and several other territorier, although the series have still to premiere in Israel (which it will do in November). Well done lads - you must've had a great format, and a helluva pitch :)

Now I just have to do that as well... :)

Miro challenging Joost, Babelgum et al

New kid on the block, Miro, is trying to challenge Joost, Babelgum and the rest of the bunch with its slightly different take on things. See. Miro is first of all an Open Source internet television app, formerly known by the much-less-savvy name "Democracy Player" (I mean, that's NOT a selling name, Miro ftw!). It also has some other nifty features, and a whole different look to it.

It's campaining with the actual tagline "Better than Joost" - pointing out that they have 2.500 unrestricted channels, loadsa HD material and are open source. Valid points, all of them.

The thing that makes Miro stand out in a positive (albeit probably fairly illegal) way from the rest of the pack is the possibility to subscribe to RSS-feeds of favourite tv shows. Just grab the RSS feed from somewhere, set up a channel on Miro and the app will take care of the rest, providing you with a new episode every time one is available. For a users guide, check out this CNet article.

My 2 cents would be that Miro will work as a good partner to Joost. It can get to stuff that Joost can't, and it can do it with a minimum of hassle. To just watch something - without really knowing what to be looking for, just killing time - Joost is still better. Also Miro crashed a couple of times on my laptop, whereas Joost has been running faultlessly for the past year - might just be me, but the feeling I get is a little bit unsteady.

Miro - try it out! Just don't get caught :)

This is where you would've seen a picture of a show on Miro, but alas! you only get to see the app itself. Oh joy, oh rapture.