Not Necessarily the News June 2007

Making a Virtual Living

YouTube is rewarding its top content contributors by sharing ad-generated revenue with them. Popular figures such as Lonelygirl 15, HappySlip and Valentina of valsart diary already have gotten some of that money, as well as promotional opportunities. In fact, Valentina has attained her dream of making a living as an artist by sharing her work through a virtual gallery and video blog on YouTube. Every week, Valentina documents the process of creating her paintings, drawing thousands of viewers 3 million total between January and May of this year, according to YouTube. Making art can be a very lonely activity and YouTube made it rewarding by giving me a loyal audience, says Valentina.

Addicted to Wi-Fi

Eighty-two percent of respondents to a recent poll said that not being able to get on their Wi-Fi networks when they really need to would be more annoying than if Sanjaya had won American Idol this year.

The nationwide survey, conducted by Kelton Research for the Wi-Fi Alliance, studied consumer preference regarding Wi-Fi technology. The survey also found the average American home has four devices connected to the home Wi-Fi network, namely PCs, laptops, printers, cameras, music players, storage devices and entertainment gear. When asked if their router allowed them greater range where they would most prefer to get online with Wi-Fi, more Americans (43 percent) said theyd like to go outside to their yards, decks or porches than anywhere else in the house.

OVERHEARD…

I believe there are clear signs that the broadband market is in flux and hardly a stable market. Cable broadband and DSL, as well as fixed services in general, are subject to erosion once mobile WiMAX arrives.

Al Boschulte, Probe Financial Associates Inc. chairman on Wall Streets tepid response to Clearwires IPO earlier this year