Last year the U.S. Military moved to block access to YouTube from troops and government employees, citing bandwidth usage problems with the services. Now, in co-operation with Seattle startup Delve Networks, it has launched a video sharing website for troops, their families and supporters. Members of the branches of the armed forces, their families, civilian Defense Department employees and supporters can join the service and upload videos.
TroopTube is tightly monitored however, with all video submissions being reviewed by Pentagon employees before they are added to filter out everything from threats to national security to copyright infringing content. Delve developed the technology to approve and sort incoming videos, as well as technology that makes several different video sizes and streams whichever is best suited for the users’ Internet connection.
Delve Chief Executive Alex Castro called TroopTube a “retention tool” which is aimed at a new generation of soldiers who bring laptops and other portable gadgets to the front line with them. “A lot of people are excited in the company to be doing something for the people who make sacrifices,” said Castro. “We’re proud of this.”
Last year the Pentagon opted to block YouTube and other video sharing sites, as well as social networking sites such as MySpace, citing security fears and bandwidth problems.
Result for: internet
Warner Bros. has pulled its DVD marketing and distribution operation in South Korea and is handing over the business to a local licensee. The move seems to be in response to rampant Internet piracy in South Korea where 94 percent of homes have high-speed broadband connections. The company made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday.
The company said it would make the transition in the coming weeks. This news comes just two months after Warner announced it would provide pre-release low-cost movie rentals on the Internet up to two weeks before they are released on DVD. The VOD service is meant to compete with piracy.
The company said its commitment to the South Korean market remains as strong as ever. However, it’s latest move shows the struggle Hollywood studios have in countries like South Korea. An industry source said that the rampant piracy “creates a more challenging marketplace” than in other countries.
Result for: internet
Although it was
announced months ago the Apple iPhone has finally made its
way to Ireland and Austria, via O2 and T-Mobile,
respectively.
In Ireland, the 8GB model of the phone will cost 399 euros while the 16GB
model will cost 100 euro more. A standard 45 euro monthly contract will give
users 175 anytime minutes, 100 texts, and 1GB internet data. A 65 euro per
month contract will get you 350 minutes, 150 texts and 1GB data and a very
expensive 100 euro plan will get you 700 minutes, 250 texts, and the same
data. Making the offer even less appealing, Irish iPhone users will not get the
amazing “Visual Voicemail” or the free Cloud Wi-Fi access.
For those still interested despite the crippled features and lack of a
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