Sunday, November 2, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
flagged & removed: 824662307 (rants & raves) BETTER SEX WHEN YOU NOT WORRYING ABOUT THAT DRUG TEST --BABY Inbox X
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2008-09-02 19:24:03
PostID: 824662307
Title: (rants & raves) BETTER SEX WHEN YOU NOT WORRYING ABOUT THAT DRUG TEST --BABY
Is your love life strained by worry? Baby needs that money, so you need that job...but that drug test...I might be able to help.
I got some kits to pass any drug test (using natural, and legal ingredients).
This kit will work with almost any type of drug test (except hair tests).
Enough to pass at least 3 drug tests. Give me a reasonable barter, and I'll send you some.
-All ingredients listed on shipment, with thorough instructions. completely safe and legal.
-Serious inquiries only.
Not a scam...but you will have to trust me, because I require payment before shipment, which is prompt. If not interested in buying, do not contact me.
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
craigslist to me
show details 4:43 AM
Reply
Your posting has been flagged for removal.
Approximately 98% of postings removed are in violation of craigslist posting guidelines.
Please make sure you are abiding by all posted site rules, including our terms of use:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/terms.of.use.html
If you need help figuring out why your posting was flagged, try asking in our flag help forum: http://forums.craigslist.org/?forumID=3. Include posting title, body, category, city, how often posted, any images, HTML markup, etc.
If your posting was wrongly flagged down (2% of flagged ads are) please accept our apologies and feel free to repost.
Sorry for the hassle, and thanks for your understanding.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2008-09-02 19:24:03
PostID: 824662307
Title: (rants & raves) BETTER SEX WHEN YOU NOT WORRYING ABOUT THAT DRUG TEST --BABY
Is your love life strained by worry? Baby needs that money, so you need that job...but that drug test...I might be able to help.
I got some kits to pass any drug test (using natural, and legal ingredients).
This kit will work with almost any type of drug test (except hair tests).
Enough to pass at least 3 drug tests. Give me a reasonable barter, and I'll send you some.
-All ingredients listed on shipment, with thorough instructions. completely safe and legal.
-Serious inquiries only.
Not a scam...but you will have to trust me, because I require payment before shipment, which is prompt. If not interested in buying, do not contact me.
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Meme Trackers
What ideas are spreading today? Who is at the center of the conversation in the blogging world? TechMeme and TailRank highlight recent popular blog posts. Spin off topically oriented meme trackers are also available. The World Bank launched their BuzzMonitor as a free open source software program allowing anyone to create a meme tracker.
What ideas are spreading today? Who is at the center of the conversation in the blogging world? TechMeme and TailRank highlight recent popular blog posts. Spin off topically oriented meme trackers are also available. The World Bank launched their BuzzMonitor as a free open source software program allowing anyone to create a meme tracker.
Why Blogs Are Different Than Static Websites
SEO for a blog is different than SEO for most other websites, largely because of the social elements baked into blogging technology. SEO for blogs is less about buying links or tricking inadequate search technology. SEO for blogs is more focused on giving people something to talk about and creating something worthy of attention.
The Social Nature of Blogs
1. RSS and feed readers make it easy for readers to subscribe to every post you write, and be notified the moment you publish it.
2. Many people who read blogs also write them, and many of them have hundreds or thousands of subscribers. If a few reputable bloggers syndicate your story it can have a cascading effect where many of their readers share your story.
3. Popular blogs that solicit reader feedback may have dozens or hundreds of comments on each post, adding unique content which the page can rank for.
4. Optimizing a blog is more about capturing attention and getting credit for spreading ideas than it is about optimizing page copy to match search relevancy algorithms.
SEO for a blog is different than SEO for most other websites, largely because of the social elements baked into blogging technology. SEO for blogs is less about buying links or tricking inadequate search technology. SEO for blogs is more focused on giving people something to talk about and creating something worthy of attention.
The Social Nature of Blogs
1. RSS and feed readers make it easy for readers to subscribe to every post you write, and be notified the moment you publish it.
2. Many people who read blogs also write them, and many of them have hundreds or thousands of subscribers. If a few reputable bloggers syndicate your story it can have a cascading effect where many of their readers share your story.
3. Popular blogs that solicit reader feedback may have dozens or hundreds of comments on each post, adding unique content which the page can rank for.
4. Optimizing a blog is more about capturing attention and getting credit for spreading ideas than it is about optimizing page copy to match search relevancy algorithms.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
number of social networking services are up for sale at the moment. Two in particular - VideoCodeZone and Mojungle, are MySpace add-ons that have been covered extensively on Mashable. I think both of these startups are wise to get out of the market as soon as possible, for reasons I’ll explain.
VideoCodeZone, according to Mashable Labs, was the number three video site for MySpace users in September. How much is that worth? According to the founders, they’re receiving 200 million monthly pageviews and make $47,000 per month. Even though those figures may be exaggerated, they’re in line with what we know about the leading MySpace layouts sites (now do you understand why Mashable is so obsessed with this market?). They have a database of 415,000 members, with 1,800,000 daily unique visitors, they claim. If you want to buy VideoCodeZone immediately, it’ll cost you $800,000 on SitePoint. The bidding, meanwhile, has reached $350,000.
If you’d asked me 3 months ago to value VideoCodeZone, I’d have placed them in the $600,000 - $800,000 range. But then something happened that could be disastrous: MySpace blocked them. In September, they were the 3rd most popular video provider on MySpace behind MySpace Video and YouTube. Now that they’re blocked, the site’s biggest traffic source is set to dry up. Incidentally, the most likely acquirer, LiveUniverse, is currently suing MySpace over their tendency to block certain third-party add-ons. VideoCodeZone face a second problem, too: they host a massive number of copyrighted videos, and could face legal problems as media companies crack down on these sites. Universal Musicmyspace-forms-music-venture-with-big-labels Apr-3-2008 , you’ll remember, is suing MySpace, Grouper and Bolt.com.
VideoCodeZone, according to Mashable Labs, was the number three video site for MySpace users in September. How much is that worth? According to the founders, they’re receiving 200 million monthly pageviews and make $47,000 per month. Even though those figures may be exaggerated, they’re in line with what we know about the leading MySpace layouts sites (now do you understand why Mashable is so obsessed with this market?). They have a database of 415,000 members, with 1,800,000 daily unique visitors, they claim. If you want to buy VideoCodeZone immediately, it’ll cost you $800,000 on SitePoint. The bidding, meanwhile, has reached $350,000.
If you’d asked me 3 months ago to value VideoCodeZone, I’d have placed them in the $600,000 - $800,000 range. But then something happened that could be disastrous: MySpace blocked them. In September, they were the 3rd most popular video provider on MySpace behind MySpace Video and YouTube. Now that they’re blocked, the site’s biggest traffic source is set to dry up. Incidentally, the most likely acquirer, LiveUniverse, is currently suing MySpace over their tendency to block certain third-party add-ons. VideoCodeZone face a second problem, too: they host a massive number of copyrighted videos, and could face legal problems as media companies crack down on these sites. Universal Musicmyspace-forms-music-venture-with-big-labels Apr-3-2008 , you’ll remember, is suing MySpace, Grouper and Bolt.com.
A second site, Mojungle, is currently for sale on eBay - the auction ends on December 14th. Starting bid: $60,000. As mentioned previously, Mojungle lets you post cellphone photos and videos to your social networking profiles via an embedded widget. I actually like the service, but if you’ve been following Mashable over the past few weeks, you’ll know they face more competition than ever before. Minor rivals like Abazab, Umundo, Supcast, Nakama, Kindfish and FotoDunk (recently acquired by iLike, despite having zero traction on MySpace) are small fry when you consider that MySpace Mobile and YouTube Mobile are ramping up. What’s more, social networking will be pre-installed on mobile devices if companies like Oz succeed in their aims.
So where does that leave the add-on sites? In previous instances (YouTubeYouTube for video, Slide.com for slideshows, Photobucket for photos), add-on services have had time to build critical mass before the social networks were able to roll out their own products - the mobile startups just haven’t achieved that. But while Mojungle might not see massive success as an independent company, an existing service could certainly buy it to save building their own mobile service. And there’s still an opportunity to build it out as a blog/MySpace add-on, but that window is closing fast.
While we’re on the subject of sales, note that ScriptMimic is being sold, only a few weeks after I covered its launch. Anyone else?
So where does that leave the add-on sites? In previous instances (YouTubeYouTube for video, Slide.com for slideshows, Photobucket for photos), add-on services have had time to build critical mass before the social networks were able to roll out their own products - the mobile startups just haven’t achieved that. But while Mojungle might not see massive success as an independent company, an existing service could certainly buy it to save building their own mobile service. And there’s still an opportunity to build it out as a blog/MySpace add-on, but that window is closing fast.
While we’re on the subject of sales, note that ScriptMimic is being sold, only a few weeks after I covered its launch. Anyone else?
Friday, May 30, 2008
Ray Kurzweil
Ray Kurzweil first began speculating about the future when he was a child, but only later as an adult did he become seriously involved with trying to accurately forecast future events. Kurzweil came to realize that his success as an inventor depended largely on proper timing: His new inventions had to be released onto the market only once many other, supporting technologies had come into existence. A device issued too early and without proper refinement would lack some key element of functionality, and a device put out too late would find the market already flooded with a different product, or consumers demanding something better.
It thus became imperative for Kurzweil to have an understanding of the rates and directions of technological development. He has, throughout his adult life, kept close track of advances in the computer and machine industries, and has precisely modeled them. By extrapolating past trends into the future, Kurzweil has found a way to predict the course of technological development.
After several years of closely tracking these trends, Kurzweil came to realize that the innovation rate of computer technology was increasing in an exponential- as opposed to linear manner. As a computer scientist, Kurzweil also understood that there was no technical reason that this type of performance growth could not continue well into the 21st century.
Since growth in so many fields of science and technology depends upon the power of computers, improvements to computing power translate into improvements to human knowledge and to non-computer sciences like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and materials science. Considering the ongoing exponential growth in computer capabilities, this means fantastic new technologies will become available long before the vast majority of people--who intuitively think linearly about technological advance--expect. This core idea is expressed by Kurzweil's "Law of Accelerating Returns."
Touching on his most important predictions, Kurzweil believes that, between now and 2050, technology will become so advanced that new medicines and medical techniques will allow people to radically extend their lifespans while preserving and even improving quality of life. The aging process could at first be slowed, then halted, and then reversed as newer and better medical technologies became available. Kurzweil believes that much of this will be thanks to medical nanotechnology, which will allow microscopic machines to travel through one's body and repair all types of damage at the cellular level. But equally consequential developments will occur within the realm of computers as they become increasingly powerful, numerous and cheap between now and 2050. Kurzweil believes that they will gain the ability to think for themselves and will thus become Artificially Intelligent. An Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) could handle the full range of human intellectual tasks and would be both emotional and self-aware. Kurzweil believes that A.I.'s will inevitably become far smarter and more powerful than humans, and will come to dominate the world in many ways. But he also believes that humanity will be protected from extermination because machines will exhibit moral thinking and will respect humans as their ancestors, and because the line between humans and machines will have--by the time the machines become powerful enough to take over--blurred thanks to the widespread use of cybernetics among the human population. Cybernetic implants will greatly enhance human cognitive and physical abilities, and allow direct interface between humans and machines. Humans and machines will exist on a continuum instead of as two, distinct species. His beliefs regarding (among other things) the potential for human immortality and the peaceful rise of a supreme machine race place Kurzweil amongst the most personally optimistic of futurists.
Ray Kurzweil is now one of the world's leading futurists, and spends a great deal of time giving public lectures and making T.V. appearances to explain his ideas, which have only been very basically summarized thus far by this section. Kurzweil is also a Transhumanist because he believes it is ethical and beneficial for people to use technology--including radical technologies that don't yet exist--to improve their lives and to improve the world as a whole. For example, as a Transhumanist, Kurzweil sees no problem with allowing people to forever cheat death through the use of advanced technologies or to upgrade themselves to superhuman extremes through cybernetics, whereas most non-Transhumanists would reject these ideas on religious grounds or because they violate the laws of nature and the fundamental norms of human life. In fact, Kurzweil believes that radical, technology-based improvements to human beings will lead them to richer, more satisfying lives in which they may also better contribute to the rest of society.
Kurzweil's standing as a leading futurist and Transhumanist have gained him positions of prominence within pertinent organizations:
In December 2004, Kurzweil joined the advisory board of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
In October 2005, Kurzweil joined the scientific advisory board of the Lifeboat Foundation.
On May 13, 2006, Kurzweil was the first speaker at the Stanford University Singularity Summit.
Futurism, as a philosophical or academic study, looks at the medium to long-term future in an attempt to predict based on current trends. Raymond Kurzweil states his belief that the future of humanity is being determined by an exponential expansion of knowledge, and that the very rate of the change of this exponential growth is driving our collective destiny irrespective of our narrow sightedness, clinging archaisms, or fear of change. Our biological evolution, according to Kurzweil, is on the verge of being superseded by our technological evolution. An evolution conjoined of cogent biological manipulation with a possible emerging self-aware, self-organizing machine intelligence. The rate of the change of the exponential explosion of knowledge and technology not only envelops us, but also irreversibly transforms us.
Accordingly, in Kurzweil's predictions, we are currently (as of the end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty first century) exiting the era in which our human biology is closed to us, and are entering into the posthuman era, in which our extensive knowledge of biochemistry, neurology and cybernetics will allow us to rebuild our bodies and our minds from the ground up. Kurzweil believes that Strong A.I., advanced nanotechnology and cybernetics are enabling technologies that will initiate the Posthuman Era through a disruptive, worldwide event known as the Singularity. By extrapolating past and current trends of technological growth into the future, Kurzweil has concluded that the aforementioned technologies will be available in 2045, and that the Singularity will thus occur in the same year.
It thus became imperative for Kurzweil to have an understanding of the rates and directions of technological development. He has, throughout his adult life, kept close track of advances in the computer and machine industries, and has precisely modeled them. By extrapolating past trends into the future, Kurzweil has found a way to predict the course of technological development.
After several years of closely tracking these trends, Kurzweil came to realize that the innovation rate of computer technology was increasing in an exponential- as opposed to linear manner. As a computer scientist, Kurzweil also understood that there was no technical reason that this type of performance growth could not continue well into the 21st century.
Since growth in so many fields of science and technology depends upon the power of computers, improvements to computing power translate into improvements to human knowledge and to non-computer sciences like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and materials science. Considering the ongoing exponential growth in computer capabilities, this means fantastic new technologies will become available long before the vast majority of people--who intuitively think linearly about technological advance--expect. This core idea is expressed by Kurzweil's "Law of Accelerating Returns."
Touching on his most important predictions, Kurzweil believes that, between now and 2050, technology will become so advanced that new medicines and medical techniques will allow people to radically extend their lifespans while preserving and even improving quality of life. The aging process could at first be slowed, then halted, and then reversed as newer and better medical technologies became available. Kurzweil believes that much of this will be thanks to medical nanotechnology, which will allow microscopic machines to travel through one's body and repair all types of damage at the cellular level. But equally consequential developments will occur within the realm of computers as they become increasingly powerful, numerous and cheap between now and 2050. Kurzweil believes that they will gain the ability to think for themselves and will thus become Artificially Intelligent. An Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) could handle the full range of human intellectual tasks and would be both emotional and self-aware. Kurzweil believes that A.I.'s will inevitably become far smarter and more powerful than humans, and will come to dominate the world in many ways. But he also believes that humanity will be protected from extermination because machines will exhibit moral thinking and will respect humans as their ancestors, and because the line between humans and machines will have--by the time the machines become powerful enough to take over--blurred thanks to the widespread use of cybernetics among the human population. Cybernetic implants will greatly enhance human cognitive and physical abilities, and allow direct interface between humans and machines. Humans and machines will exist on a continuum instead of as two, distinct species. His beliefs regarding (among other things) the potential for human immortality and the peaceful rise of a supreme machine race place Kurzweil amongst the most personally optimistic of futurists.
Ray Kurzweil is now one of the world's leading futurists, and spends a great deal of time giving public lectures and making T.V. appearances to explain his ideas, which have only been very basically summarized thus far by this section. Kurzweil is also a Transhumanist because he believes it is ethical and beneficial for people to use technology--including radical technologies that don't yet exist--to improve their lives and to improve the world as a whole. For example, as a Transhumanist, Kurzweil sees no problem with allowing people to forever cheat death through the use of advanced technologies or to upgrade themselves to superhuman extremes through cybernetics, whereas most non-Transhumanists would reject these ideas on religious grounds or because they violate the laws of nature and the fundamental norms of human life. In fact, Kurzweil believes that radical, technology-based improvements to human beings will lead them to richer, more satisfying lives in which they may also better contribute to the rest of society.
Kurzweil's standing as a leading futurist and Transhumanist have gained him positions of prominence within pertinent organizations:
In December 2004, Kurzweil joined the advisory board of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
In October 2005, Kurzweil joined the scientific advisory board of the Lifeboat Foundation.
On May 13, 2006, Kurzweil was the first speaker at the Stanford University Singularity Summit.
Futurism, as a philosophical or academic study, looks at the medium to long-term future in an attempt to predict based on current trends. Raymond Kurzweil states his belief that the future of humanity is being determined by an exponential expansion of knowledge, and that the very rate of the change of this exponential growth is driving our collective destiny irrespective of our narrow sightedness, clinging archaisms, or fear of change. Our biological evolution, according to Kurzweil, is on the verge of being superseded by our technological evolution. An evolution conjoined of cogent biological manipulation with a possible emerging self-aware, self-organizing machine intelligence. The rate of the change of the exponential explosion of knowledge and technology not only envelops us, but also irreversibly transforms us.
Accordingly, in Kurzweil's predictions, we are currently (as of the end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty first century) exiting the era in which our human biology is closed to us, and are entering into the posthuman era, in which our extensive knowledge of biochemistry, neurology and cybernetics will allow us to rebuild our bodies and our minds from the ground up. Kurzweil believes that Strong A.I., advanced nanotechnology and cybernetics are enabling technologies that will initiate the Posthuman Era through a disruptive, worldwide event known as the Singularity. By extrapolating past and current trends of technological growth into the future, Kurzweil has concluded that the aforementioned technologies will be available in 2045, and that the Singularity will thus occur in the same year.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Electronic Device Addiction By Anne Patterson
By Anne Patterson
As uses for computer chips evolve, new ways of operating in the remodeling business continue to appear. Many remodelers have become attached to their hand-held electronic gadgets, claiming that they can't imagine doing without them. However, there are still a few who prefer to stick to most of their old ways.
Cell phones: Probably the most ubiquitous electronic tool for contractors is the cell phone. Mark Yandell, Yandell Construction of Chicago suburb Lake Bluff, Ill., describes his relationship with his own. "I need it more than any other device ... but I hate it," he says. "Today everyone wants an answer instantly. They don't take responsibility and think for themselves anymore. But it does let me contact my men in the field immediately. And I save time by making my calls while I'm driving." (The city of Chicago, like a growing number of municipalities, requires drivers to use hands-free devices with cell phones.)
Personal digital assistants: Mark Dixon is very attached to his Microsoft Word-based personal digital assistant. "It's like a small, hand-held computer," says Mark, who is vice president and co-owner of Legacy Custom Building & Remodeling Inc. (Scottsdale, Ariz.). "It has a keyboard that folds up, making it a wallet-sized package. I type my project notes on it and send them to my laptop computer. I also find it very handy in keeping my appointments straight."
Cell phone/computer combinations: Ken Rabbins, president of Building Systems Technology, New York, loves his combination cell phone/Palm Pilot. "It interfaces with my computer," he says. "I can take a spread sheet along to the project with me. I can sketch on it and send the drawing off. It also allows me to send and receive email."
Project managers at design/build remodeler Benvenuti & Stein (Evanston, Ill.) also use combination cell phone/handheld computers, which interface with their laptop computers. While in the field, they take project notes and zap them sent back to their computers in the office. As with all PDA-type devices, their instruments contain a calendar for recording appointments and allow ready access to stored phone numbers and addresses.
Digital cameras: Ken and Mark both frequently use digital cameras to document the progress of a project. "I can send someone a picture immediately," Ken says. "In New York City, documentation of a project is important because of all the code requirements. Additionally, you can send an absent client pictures showing how the project is coming along."
Laser tape measures: Neil Fortunato, president of Fortunato Builders, Renovation Specialists (Highland Park, Ill.), would hate to give up his laser tape measure. "It gives me the length, width, height and volume of a space in no time flat," he says. But aside from the tape measure and his cell phone, he uses no other electronic gadgets. "I still find it very easy to write down all my appointments in an old fashioned appointment book," he says.
Exceptions aside, whether we love them or hate them, most of us can't live without our gadgets.
As uses for computer chips evolve, new ways of operating in the remodeling business continue to appear. Many remodelers have become attached to their hand-held electronic gadgets, claiming that they can't imagine doing without them. However, there are still a few who prefer to stick to most of their old ways.
Cell phones: Probably the most ubiquitous electronic tool for contractors is the cell phone. Mark Yandell, Yandell Construction of Chicago suburb Lake Bluff, Ill., describes his relationship with his own. "I need it more than any other device ... but I hate it," he says. "Today everyone wants an answer instantly. They don't take responsibility and think for themselves anymore. But it does let me contact my men in the field immediately. And I save time by making my calls while I'm driving." (The city of Chicago, like a growing number of municipalities, requires drivers to use hands-free devices with cell phones.)
Personal digital assistants: Mark Dixon is very attached to his Microsoft Word-based personal digital assistant. "It's like a small, hand-held computer," says Mark, who is vice president and co-owner of Legacy Custom Building & Remodeling Inc. (Scottsdale, Ariz.). "It has a keyboard that folds up, making it a wallet-sized package. I type my project notes on it and send them to my laptop computer. I also find it very handy in keeping my appointments straight."
Cell phone/computer combinations: Ken Rabbins, president of Building Systems Technology, New York, loves his combination cell phone/Palm Pilot. "It interfaces with my computer," he says. "I can take a spread sheet along to the project with me. I can sketch on it and send the drawing off. It also allows me to send and receive email."
Project managers at design/build remodeler Benvenuti & Stein (Evanston, Ill.) also use combination cell phone/handheld computers, which interface with their laptop computers. While in the field, they take project notes and zap them sent back to their computers in the office. As with all PDA-type devices, their instruments contain a calendar for recording appointments and allow ready access to stored phone numbers and addresses.
Digital cameras: Ken and Mark both frequently use digital cameras to document the progress of a project. "I can send someone a picture immediately," Ken says. "In New York City, documentation of a project is important because of all the code requirements. Additionally, you can send an absent client pictures showing how the project is coming along."
Laser tape measures: Neil Fortunato, president of Fortunato Builders, Renovation Specialists (Highland Park, Ill.), would hate to give up his laser tape measure. "It gives me the length, width, height and volume of a space in no time flat," he says. But aside from the tape measure and his cell phone, he uses no other electronic gadgets. "I still find it very easy to write down all my appointments in an old fashioned appointment book," he says.
Exceptions aside, whether we love them or hate them, most of us can't live without our gadgets.
iRobot
January 10, 2007 iRobot has unveiled iRobot Create, an affordable, programmable robot designed for aspiring roboticists. Create is based on the core technology of iRobot Roomba, the vacuuming robot that is cleaning millions of homes worldwide, and is compatible with Roomba’s rechargeable batteries, remote control and other accessories. Create comes pre-assembled, so developers can design new robots without having to build a mobile robot from scratch. Pricing starts at US$130, enabling developers to begin designing new robot applications out of the box. This new platform provides access to robot sensors and actuators via an open interface. Create also features standard connections for electronics and threaded mounting holes that allow users to secure their inventions to the robot, streamlining the integration of third-party electronics such as sensors, cameras, arms and wireless connections.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
STAGE6 R.I.P....WHY??
Spinner
Stage6 to Shut Down on February 28
I’m Tom (aka Spinner), a Stage6 user and an employee of DivX, Inc., the company behind the service. I’m writing this message today to inform you that we plan to shut down Stage6 on February 28, 2008. Upload functionality has already been turned off, and you’ll be able to view and download videos until Thursday.
I know this news will come as a shock and disappointment to many Stage6 users, and I’d like to take a few moments to explain the reasons behind our decision.
We created Stage6 with the mission of empowering content creators and viewers to discover a new kind of video experience. Stage6 began as an experiment, and we always knew there was a chance that it might not succeed.
In many ways, though, the service did succeed, beyond even our own initial expectations. Stage6 became very popular very quickly. We helped gain exposure for some talented filmmakers who brought great videos to the attention of an engaged community. We helped prove that it’s possible to distribute true high definition video on the Internet. And we helped broaden the Internet video experience by offering content that is compatible with DVD players, mobile devices and other products beyond the PC.
So why are we shutting the service down? Well, the short answer is that the continued operation of Stage6 is a very expensive enterprise that requires an enormous amount of attention and resources that we are not in a position to continue to provide. There are a lot of other details involved, but at the end of the day it’s really as simple as that.
Now, why didn’t we think of that before we decided to create Stage6 in the first place, you may ask? That’s a good question. When we first created Stage6, there was a clear need for a service that would offer a true high quality video experience online because other video destinations on the Internet simply weren’t providing that to users. A gap existed, and Stage6 arrived to fill it.
As Stage6 grew quickly and dramatically (accompanied by an explosion of other sites delivering high quality video), it became clear that operating the service as a part of the larger DivX business no longer made sense. We couldn’t continue to run Stage6 and focus on our broader strategy to make it possible for anyone to enjoy high quality video on any device. So, in July of last year we announced that we were kicking off an effort to explore strategic alternatives for Stage6, which is a fancy way of saying we decided we would either have to sell it, spin it out into a private company or shut it down.
I won’t (and can’t, really) go into too much detail on those first two options other than to say that we tried really hard to find a way to keep Stage6 alive, either as its own private entity or by selling it to another company. Ultimately neither of those two scenarios was possible, and we made the hard decision to turn the lights off and cease operation of the service.
So that’s where we are today. After February 28, Stage6 will cease to exist as an online destination. But the larger DivX universe will continue to thrive. Every day new DivX Certified devices arrive on the market making it easy to move video beyond the PC. Products powered by DivX Connected, our new initiative that lets users stream video, photos, music and Internet services from the PC to the TV, are hitting retail outlets. We remain committed to empowering content creators to deliver high quality video to a wide audience, and we’ll continue to offer services that will make it easy to find videos online in the DivX format.
It’s been a wild ride, and none of it would have been possible without the support of our users. Thank you for making Stage6 everything that it was.
--Tom
Posted 13 hours ago (2/25/08 5:07AM PST) by Spinner
Stage6 to Shut Down on February 28
I’m Tom (aka Spinner), a Stage6 user and an employee of DivX, Inc., the company behind the service. I’m writing this message today to inform you that we plan to shut down Stage6 on February 28, 2008. Upload functionality has already been turned off, and you’ll be able to view and download videos until Thursday.
I know this news will come as a shock and disappointment to many Stage6 users, and I’d like to take a few moments to explain the reasons behind our decision.
We created Stage6 with the mission of empowering content creators and viewers to discover a new kind of video experience. Stage6 began as an experiment, and we always knew there was a chance that it might not succeed.
In many ways, though, the service did succeed, beyond even our own initial expectations. Stage6 became very popular very quickly. We helped gain exposure for some talented filmmakers who brought great videos to the attention of an engaged community. We helped prove that it’s possible to distribute true high definition video on the Internet. And we helped broaden the Internet video experience by offering content that is compatible with DVD players, mobile devices and other products beyond the PC.
So why are we shutting the service down? Well, the short answer is that the continued operation of Stage6 is a very expensive enterprise that requires an enormous amount of attention and resources that we are not in a position to continue to provide. There are a lot of other details involved, but at the end of the day it’s really as simple as that.
Now, why didn’t we think of that before we decided to create Stage6 in the first place, you may ask? That’s a good question. When we first created Stage6, there was a clear need for a service that would offer a true high quality video experience online because other video destinations on the Internet simply weren’t providing that to users. A gap existed, and Stage6 arrived to fill it.
As Stage6 grew quickly and dramatically (accompanied by an explosion of other sites delivering high quality video), it became clear that operating the service as a part of the larger DivX business no longer made sense. We couldn’t continue to run Stage6 and focus on our broader strategy to make it possible for anyone to enjoy high quality video on any device. So, in July of last year we announced that we were kicking off an effort to explore strategic alternatives for Stage6, which is a fancy way of saying we decided we would either have to sell it, spin it out into a private company or shut it down.
I won’t (and can’t, really) go into too much detail on those first two options other than to say that we tried really hard to find a way to keep Stage6 alive, either as its own private entity or by selling it to another company. Ultimately neither of those two scenarios was possible, and we made the hard decision to turn the lights off and cease operation of the service.
So that’s where we are today. After February 28, Stage6 will cease to exist as an online destination. But the larger DivX universe will continue to thrive. Every day new DivX Certified devices arrive on the market making it easy to move video beyond the PC. Products powered by DivX Connected, our new initiative that lets users stream video, photos, music and Internet services from the PC to the TV, are hitting retail outlets. We remain committed to empowering content creators to deliver high quality video to a wide audience, and we’ll continue to offer services that will make it easy to find videos online in the DivX format.
It’s been a wild ride, and none of it would have been possible without the support of our users. Thank you for making Stage6 everything that it was.
--Tom
Posted 13 hours ago (2/25/08 5:07AM PST) by Spinner
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