Monday 19 March 2007, 5:58 PM
The need for video content
Thanks to one of ZDNet UK's readers, filthylooker, for his/her reply to my last blog post.
For those who missed it, I expressed surprise at the response by BlackBerry manufacturer RIM to our request to carry video coverage of the interview with its EMEA vice president Charmaine Eggberry.
Filthylooker responded to suggest it would have been polite to give RIM decent notice that we wished to conduct the interview using video.
And I do agree. We had actually given RIM eight days notice that we were bringing our cameraman - a fact which the company had accepted prior to the day in question. So we were somewhat surprised when, on the day of the interview - we were met by so many bewildered RIM staff.
The point I want to make is that many companies have been slow to react to the changes in the way individuals and companies choose to consume news. When I worked for a print publication, IT suppliers were taken aback when we published on the web. Now I work for a website, IT suppliers are amazed that readers are demanding, and we are producing, video content.
For an industry which moves faster than almost any other, I'm just staggered that some people move so slowly.
In response to filthylooker's other two points. We're not rude to interviewees - we don't think that's appropriate, or professional - and you'll see that in the RIM video.
We also understand that some people don't wish to watch video, or can't because of corporate HR or IT policies. For those people, a transcript of the conversation would be ideal. However, providing a transcript does take considerable time - and in most circumstances currently, we would prefer to spend that time investing in producing further breaking news stories.
Having said that, we're always looking to respond to our readers with the information they are demanding. So if you have any further feedback for us on our video coverage, do let us know by posting a comment.
Friday 16 March 2007, 10:14 AM
Nervous RIM
My interview yesterday with the European head of RIM sent the BlackBerry maker into a nervous spin.
Armed with my video producer, we arrived smack on time at RIM HQ here at CeBIT in Germany.
"You want to video Charmaine?" queried the PR bodyguards of Charmaine Eggberry, the vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
I replied in the affirmative, yet I was met with more queries. "But ZDNet doesn't do video - it's all written," Charmaine's carer said.
No really, we're not stuck in the 20th Century - our readers want to consume news in a variety of forms - and printed words are just one of them, I reply.
So we were granted access to Charmaine's lair. Readers can see the result of the interview on the homepage.
Shortly after the interview, I received a call from RIM.
"So you're wanting to do this as a video interview," said RIM. "We are doing this as a video interview," I reply.
"So what does it look like?" said RIM, confused. And so the conversation continued in this rather bizarre manner until I drew RIM's attention to our last ZDNet video interview, where my colleague David Meyer interviewed Google on its web applications.
"OK, right," said RIM, a little unconvinced, whereupon it withdrew to reconsider, and decided video was OK after all.
RIM isn't the first company to react in this manner, and unfortunately I don't think it will be the last.
In speaking to our readers, you told us that you wanted to read the written word as well as see critical content brought to you by video. You're not alone with that viewpoint: the habits of online consumers of news are changing across all industry sectors. We're certainly intending to change with you, and your comments on this issue are more than welcome. Just click on 'post a comment'.
By the way, what you won't see with the interview because of practical restrictions on the length of the video, is how nervous RIM has got over the whole security issue.
Charmaine brought the issue up, but certainly did not like being pursued on it. Remember issues like staff at the BBC getting each other's emails by mistake?
The hacker at Defcon revealing how a BlackBerry could be used to break through corporate security defenses? Charmaine said she didn't know about the BBC, while the latter is 'a long time ago', according to Charmaine's PR minders. A long time ago, perhaps (only seven months), but still highly relevant?
Thursday 15 March 2007, 5:43 PM
Front-line tech reporting
So, I'm talking to a helpful and informative German gentleman from navigation specialists Telmap about the company's BlackBerry-based solution, and he's giving me the low-down on the technology at the back end that pushes out the maps you need in a clever way. "Ach, I have told you too much: I'm going to have to kill you!".
Well, I'm still here, ready to dodge whatever bullets may fly tomorrow...
Thursday 15 March 2007, 3:24 PM
CeBIT looks inwards
This is the second time one of ZDNet's reporters has called me to cancel a story - because the press conference is to be hosted in the German language. This is Europe's largest trade show in the world's largest English speaking industry, IT, yet it transpires that a large proportion of the press conferences here at CeBIT are being delivered in a language only spoken as mother tongue by Germans, Austrians and Swiss.
CeBIT attracts visitors from all over the world, including sizeable contingents this year from the US and Asia. To exclude the vast majority of those from the event's press conferences is at best embarrassing for the organisers and presenters, and at worst, quite selective and disgraceful.
The two companies concerned: global giants Novell, - and Vodafone.
Thursday 15 March 2007, 11:39 AM
CeBIT warming up - but slowly
Today's the first day proper of the CeBIT tech trade event in Hanover, Germany, and it's been a slow but optimistic start on the show floors. Visitor numbers are predicted to be slightly down this year as the event organisers attempt to concentrate on a set of specific subject areas. It's not heaving - despite the unseasonably warm weather - so anyone in the vicinity is likely to be able to command some lengthy attention from most of the exhibitors.
I've just spent a while with BlackBerry maker Research in Motion - where its application partners have incurred more than a passing interest. I've interviewed Charmaine Eggberry, vice president of RIM for Europe - and you'll see the interview posted on ZDNet UK shortly.
Wednesday 14 March 2007, 4:50 PM
Vodafone launches 'fastest' wireless data service
Communications giant Vodafone will launch a wireless mobile data transmission service with speeds of up to 7.2 MBits/s in Germany on Thursday.
The company announced the high speed wi-fi download capability at the CeBIT technology fair in Hannover on Wednesday. The technology will allow high speed mobile transmission of large data volumes for Vodafone's German customers.
Based on HSDPA technology, the company claims the upload speed of up to 1.45 MBits/second tops fixed DSL lines. The technology works over the existing 3G network in Germany according to a Vodafone.de spokeswoman, and will be rolled out tomorrow in all of the major German cities.
Currently the fastest wi-fi mobile broadband download speed available in the UK is 1.8Mbits/second using HSDPA. Vodafone UK could not comment at the time of writing whether there would be a UK rollout of the technology.
Wednesday 14 March 2007, 4:45 PM
CeBIT kicks off in sunshine
Having seen rain, sleet and snow (and sometimes all three at once) in my time at CeBIT, it's a relief to find Hanover bathed in spring sunshine as we ascend to the giddy heights of CNET's HQ perched atop the mighty Hall 1 at the Messegelande.
Hall 1 is notorious for its ability to swallow whole legions of tech hacks, who are apt to become disorientated as they penetrate its central region, where no outer walls, windows or doors are visible — just endless stand upon exhibition stand.
ZDNet, of course, will laugh in the face of such dangers, as we penetrate not only Hall 1, but Halls 2-26 in search of tasty tech. Tomorrow, I'll be mostly hunting down 2nd-generation Ultra Mobile PCs: a year on from their decidedly underwhelming launch, have the manufacturers got it right this time?
Tuesday 13 March 2007, 1:34 PM
Breaking news from CeBIT
Love it or hate it – the extravaganza that is the CeBIT IT trade show in Hanover kicks off tomorrow. ZDNet has a whole raft of its top reporters on scene including our News Editor Richard Thurston who'll be coordinating things on the ground. We have also dispatched a video operator who'll help our team send back some interesting visual snippets from the show which while vast is always big on colour.
You can stay up to date via the CeBIT special report – signposted from the homepage – and the Emerging Tech Toolkit
