The coverage is all about how important it is not to lose these websites, as they are a part of the Internet’s heritage.  They say that we don’t want to lose these sites for ever – Good point.

But – The service already exists!

There’s already internationally respected archives, like The Internet Archive, which have done exactly this, for years!  Right now, you can pull up an old copy of almost any website or copies of deleted websites, simply by entering their URL into The Way Back Machine.

I thought to begin with, that no one at the BBC or The British Library had heard of the other archive providers, but I was wrong.  A long article on the BBC website, which restates the need for this service, ends with the following:

Other informal projects – such as the WayBack Machine – also exist.

Of course, that statement pretty much renders the entire article as pointless and shows why there’s no real need for the service. I LOVE the British Library and what they do, but cannot see why they are selling this idea as something new.

iPlayer HD – BIG downloads

Although the iPlayer HD service is likely to be a great addition to an already excellent service, using it comes with a BIG caveat – BANDWIDTH costs!

Many UK Internet users have a ‘capped’ broadband package from their ISP (Internet Service Provider).  These caps are typically VERY low. UK ISP Freedom2Surf, for example, offers users a pathetic 50 gigabytes for a whole month!  This would quickly be eaten in to, with regular viewing of HD content as well as a few podcast subscriptions.  Other UK providers offer even smaller packages, with payment penalties if you go over your allocation.

iPlayer HD – Maybe this will make UK ISP’s rethink?

Although the BBC are to be applauded for passing the envelope, I wonder how long it will be before some less experienced Internet users start getting unexpectedly large ISP bills, after viewing the new HD content?

It’s time UK ISP’s started to adapt their packages to reflect the changing needs of Internet users.  Hopefully, the surge in bandwidth demand created by providers like the BBC, will get the process moving on!

Bandwidth Caps elsewhere

This post should also serve as a warning to our readers overseas, who are increasingly starting to see bandwidth caps introduced.  This is a prime example of the kind of issues caps cause.  Caps are also likely to impact other Internet video content providers, like Leo Laporte’s TWiT network and Revision3 etc.

What we don’t want to see is content, which only a percentage of Internet users can afford to watch!

By @thetechnewsblog.com
I am a well documented fan of Twitter.  One of the things people often ask me, is a version of the following question;

“What’s the point of Twitter if all you do is tell people what you are having for dinner or what radio station you are listening to?”

I have posted previously on what I love about Twitter, but in this post, I would like to highlight how useful Twitter can be to you as a way to get feedback, answers, recommendations etc.

Twitter now has a massive and diverse user base. This means it has GREAT POTENTIAL as a tool to get feedback on just about anything!

With millions of active users now using Twitter, from just about everywhere on the planet, it’s no surprise to me when I see journalists and people from major news outlets using Twitter for their research.

Earlier this week, Rory Cellen-Jones from the BBC wanted some help and called on Twitter;

“planning to blog about scrabulous but need some apt seven letter words. Suggestions?“

I used Twitter this week to get some feedback on the new design of this blog and got some comments from some really helpful web designers, web users, podcasters and even a few well-known tech celebrities!.

Other uses for Twitter?

Robert Scoble is one of the smartest users of Twitter. He uses it for everything from; PR, communication and marketing – to research, information gathering and even a little micro-blogging!

Twitter can either be extremely useful or a total waste of time.  In the end, what YOU get from it is always going to be a reflection of what you put into it.

If you are a Twitter user or you are thinking about joining, give me a shout or follow me: - my username is @thetechnewsblog.com

Bullshit – Bullshit – Bullshit
I hate the way people change their opinions about someone after they either become ill, die or (as in Bill’s case) retire.  The truth is that Bill Gates is still whatever he was 6 months ago; when these same idiots were sniping at his every move.

Hypocritical?
Even respected people got in on the act!  I love Leo Laporte – he’s my favourite Tech show producer for heavens sake – BUT Leo is also a well-known Mac fanboy.  I love the way Leo pokes fun at Microsoft.  However, listening to Leo Laporte gushing with praise for Bill Gates and Microsoft on last weeks ‘Windows Weekly’ show was nausiating! Why the change Leo?

In fairness to Leo Laporte, he was one of a massive number of highly respected ‘tech Journalists to change their opinions just because the guy’s left his job.  The BBC, who were recently challenged for their over-the-top Apple coverage – were just as hypocritical in their praise for Gates and Microsoft.

Guys – Come on!
Either retract the past 20 years worth stuff you wrote about Gates; telling us what a bastard he is, or stop with the ‘we love Bill’ bullshit!

Rory Cellan-Jones quoted me in his blog and Jeremy Hillman, the Editor of their Business and Economics Unit has actually linked to the post and explained what he thinks. Here’s his post and why he thinks I am wrong!

Now, I do not agree with the insane amount of coverage the BBC has given the iPhone launch; however, I salute their decision to bring the story of their coverage out into the open.

I wonder how many other news gathering organizations would have done the same?

Thank you Rory and Jeremy for being ‘proper’ about this!

Their pre-launch and now post launch iPhone publicity is all the more mystifying; as the BBC is NOT ALLOWED to advertise products here in the UK! Equally, the iPhone has a very small percentage of the UK mobile phone market – making it of limited interest.

Both here in this blog and on the BBC’s own blog, people are asking for answers – and not getting them.

What do you think?
Are the BBC right to GIVE hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of free publicity to Apple?

UPDATE:
What do I know about the power of this kind of advertising? I should disclose that whilst I am NOT a professional tech journalist, I own and run an international marketing company and produce one of Europe’s best known marketing blogs

I have just been answered (kind of) by Darren Waters at the BBC.

I say I was answered, I was actually insulted, accused of using their blog as link bait and told that the BBC had only given iPhone one article and one blog post – which is 100% incorrect! One of the other comments in their blog, listed 4 recent iPhone stories and gave links to them!

So, we still know nothing about why they are dishing so much free publicity out to Apple – they are just denying it – even when it is presented to them.

Is it possible that the blog’s Editor REALLY didn’t know that his staff had already written a massive blog post about the iphone launch?

In the UK, the BBC are not allowed to advertise; yet they are giving stacks of powerful publicity to Apple’s iPhone, which would cost a company a fortune to buy, because the BBC is seen as being ‘neutral.’

No one at the BBC has been bothered to respond to the various questions raised regarding this publicity in their blog. This is unusual, as they often do respond to posts on their blogs. Could it be that they realised their gaffe and want it to die down?

Nope – they are at it again!
They may not have answered the questions surrounding their iPhone coverage, but they have managed to crank out yet another pre-launch promotional piece for their beloved iPhone.
You can read it here!

Apple love
I love the iPhone too, use a Mac most days and will not go near a gym without my beloved iPod. My issue is not with Apple; my issue is with the double standards at the BBC.

That same BBC blog, which promotes Apple and the iPhone and gives acres of space to it, has a set of rules, which clearly state that no one can post anything that promotes products or services. You can’t even comment on their blog, if your user name is linked in any way to a business (seriously.)

BBC love
I am a big fan of the BBC and I work on the BBC occasionally as a reviewer for BBC radio. I Find it disappointing that no one has clarified the situation or explained why it’s OK to promote / publicise ‘some’ companies and products and not others.

Dear BBC
If there IS a reason that explains what ‘seems’ to be a real double standard, let us know!

Maggie is a superb Writer, but the reason I mention this is because here in the UK, the BBC are not allowed to advertise. As well as being a technology blogger, I am the owner of a very successful international marketing business and have over 20 years experience in marketing. In my opinion, the article or ‘blog post’ reads way too much like pre-launch marketing.

Pre-launch marketing?
Companies pay marketing and PR people to generate a ‘buzz’ about a new product or service BEFORE it’s launched. This way, the launch goes with a bang and stacks of sales are made. Think of the kind of thing we saw before the launch of; the last iPhone, GTA 4 or the last Harry Potter book and you will get an idea of what pre-launch is all about!

News?
By reporting on the ‘hype’ surrounding the new iPhone – the BBC, who are the world’s largest news organisation, is giving Apple even more pre-launch coverage and creating even more hype! One of the comments on the blog says; “so, when there’s nothing to report, you report nothing?” I think this is because the article reads too much like ‘yet another’ promo piece for Apple.

A request
I have asked the BBC, through their blog, how this works. When is it OK to add fuel to the pre-launch hype in the name of news – And when it crosses the line into pre-launch marketing.

If YOU know the answer or have any feedback, please let me know.