YouTube: Podcasts, Vidcasts, Any Old Casts Will Do for Advertising
September 6, 2022
It appears YouTube is eager to jump onto the podcast bandwagon. The Hustle ponders whether “YouTube = Future Podcast Champ?” Maybe, but Google will have to maintain interest; otherwise, another Google Plus type situation may emerge. Writer Juliet Bennett Rylah reports:
A new podcasts homepage is now available to US users, going live sans fanfare in late July. TechCrunch speculates YouTube is waiting for its creator event next month to make a formal announcement. But YouTube also:
- Hired podcast exec Kai Chuk in 2021 Offered podcasters and networks $50k-$300k to create videos
- Discussed audio ads and new analytics for audio-centric creators in a leaked document
- Partnered with NPR to bring on 20+ of its most popular shows.
Why’s it matter? While YouTube is often seen as a video-first platform, YouTube Music had 2B+ monthly users and 50m+ paid subs as of September 2021. Though competitors including Spotify, Apple, and Amazon have made big moves in the space, a Cumulus Media analysis found YouTube is America’s most popular podcast platform, capturing 24.2% of listeners compared to Spotify’s 23.8% and Apple’s 16%.”
Rylah, fittingly, points us to a podcast for another perspective. On an episode of Marketing Against the Grain, HubSpot’s Kipp Bodnar and Kieran Flanagan assert YouTube subscribers are now the most valuable subscribers on the Internet. They also make a few predictions. For example, the pair believes YouTube’s discovery platform will give its podcasters a leg up. They also suspect the site’s background listening feature is about to become free for everyone, as it currently is in a Canadian pilot program. At the same time, the site may push both podcasts and the brands that support them toward a more visual format. But wouldn’t that just turn them into more video content? What makes a podcast a podcast? Perhaps that is a philosophical question beyond the ken of this humble, text-based content creator.
Cynthia Murrell, September 6, 2022
Google and Russia: How Many Rubles Does the Online Ad Giant Have Tucked Away?
July 28, 2022
There is something called a special action underway in Eastern Europe. The knock on effects are interesting. I thought about how Google will pay a fine to a country involved in a dust up, operating under sanctions, and functioning without some of the banking services available to more acceptable nation states; for example, Luxembourg, Monaco, and a number of others. This thought was sparked by the allegedly accurate information in “Russia Fines Google $358 Million for Not Removing Banned Info.” The cited article states:
Due to the multiple violations of the same legal requirement, the following fine would be revenue-based, reaching as high as 10% of the firm’s annual turnover. Roskomnadzor clarifies that the massive fine of $358 million was indeed calculated on the basis of the company’s annual business turnover in Russia.
The write up added:
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sweeping anti-fake news laws enacted in the country, the Russian Google subsidiary, Google LLC, was forced to file for bankruptcy, claiming incapacity to continue business after a series of massive fines and, ultimately, asset confiscation.
Several questions:
- What happens to the Russian YouTube content providers’ money? Will Google “hold” the money and invest it? Who gets the payout?
- Will Google dip into its bag of non – US currencies and pay Russia or will that create an additional legal headache and increased financial costs?
- Will Sergey Brin explore a ride on a Russian rocket once the possibly-improper fine is resolved?
- How many violations can Russian officials identify? What will the price tag be if future violations of Russia’s laws, rules, and regulations are identified and levied?
And those lost advertising dollars? Yikes. That’s not good for Alphabet Google YouTube DeepMind stakeholders? Does DeepMind have a solution? Will Russian YouTube content providers trust DeepMind’s unbiased answer?
Stephen E Arnold, July 28, 2022
The Cost of Cyber Security Misconfiguration
July 18, 2022
The numbers tossed around about the cost of a security breach are interesting. I have formed the opinion that the cost estimates are a result of what I have called spreadsheet fever. Plug in numbers, make them flow, and go, baby, go. I read “Razer Seeks $7m from Capgemini for 2020 Data Breach.” The write up explains:
The Singapore-born gaming firm is seeking compensation of nearly US$7 million in damages, which also includes a US$2,000 reward to the security researcher who discovered the breach under the company’s bug bounty program.
What outfit is the target of the litigation? The write up says:
In its lawsuit, Razer alleged that the security breach was the result of a misconfiguration of the “ELK Stack,” caused by one of Capgemini’s employees.
The ELK is not the majestic animal. The ELK in the cyber context represents open source software glued together to deliver a range of security features. The trick is the configuration. Get a setting wrong, and the ELK is less healthy than some observers suspect. An unhealthy ELK can be problematic. This is not a big dead animal in the climate changed world. This creature puts revenue and others at risk of catching a bad disease themselves; for example, standing in the unemployment line, working the phone to reclaim their identity, and apply for a job at one of the booming cyber security vendors. Well, maybe not that particular angle.
The outcome of the lawsuit may provide some more data about the cost of a cyber screw up and details about the how of the alleged misstep.
Stephen E Arnold, July 19, 2022
Cloud Economics: The Customer Pays Because Going-Back Costs Are Too High
July 11, 2022
Short- and mid-term decisions may not be the optimal ones. Who cares about that pawn? Maybe in the end game, that pawn was on steroids. The player willing to give it up was unwilling to think about what lurks in the future.
I read “FedEx to Close Data Centers, Retire All Mainframes by 2024, Saving $400m.” The main idea is that mainframes are not suited to the zippy world of today. Furthermore, programmers –despite high-tech’s enthusiastic reduction in force moves – are not into the oddities of big iron. Those who do get jazzed with total-code working environments are rarer than a certain prince’s attending a female 15 year-old’s birthday party at the country club pool in Oxfordshire.
The write up reports:
Speaking during the FedEx investor day, FedEx CIO Rob Carter said the company is aiming for a ‘zero data center, zero mainframe’ environment based in the cloud, which will result in $400 million in savings annually. “We’ve been working across this decade to streamline and simplify our technology and systems,” he said. “We’ve shifted to cloud…we’ve been eliminating monolithic applications one after the other after the other…we’re moving to a zero data center, zero mainframe environment that’s more flexible, secure, and cost-effective.”
One way to view IBM’s approach to computing in the pre-person computer days was a person in handcuffs. IBMers disagree with my view. No problem. I also see cloud computing as a variation of the IBM approach to computing: Lock in and change are business benefits. Leasing mainframes and buying services each year is the equivalent of high-tech’s discovery of subscription-centric revenue models.
FedEx does not see the cloud as a variation on the mainframe strategy and its pricing structure. I thought one of the FedEx wizards was a Harvard MBA wizard.
The write up notes:
FedEx has previously said it planned to work with Intel and Switch to build Edge data centers at FedEx locations across the US. Whether this has actually been rolled out is unclear.
Trendy I suppose. I want to point out that there are some interesting comments about this alleged decision in the Y Combinator Hacker News comments. You can find these at this link.
One comment resonated with me: “Change gives the illusion of progress.”
Stephen E Arnold, July xx, 2022
Differences between Amateur and Pro Analysts: A Sci-Fi Adventure
July 5, 2022
I read “One of the Most Prominent Crypto Hedge Funds Just Defaulted on a $670 Million Loan.” I also read some of the reports about the company. You can refresh your understanding of “real” analysts at work. Try this link even though the main Three Arrows’ site is throwing 404s.
I then read “10 Differences between Amateurs and Professional Analysts.” (You may have spit up an email or pay to read this estimable essay about differences in data wrangling pony riders.) I considered each of the points of differentiation. Here are three, but you will have to consult the original article yourself to be further enlightened.
- Handling lots of data. Yeah, let’s ask Dr. Timnit Gebru about that. My experience is that those better at analytics can make those data perform like trained ponies at the Barnum & Bailey Circus.
- Immunity to data science bias. Yeah, let us check out how the AI demos respond to requests for certain topics. Try Crungus on DALL-E. Working good, right?
- Refusing to be a data charlatan. And Three Arrows? Just an anomaly, perhaps?
Net net: No difference unless measured in ångströms and an happy ignorance of poisoned data when sucking down alternative information. What could go wrong? Answer: Three Arrows.
Stephen E Arnold, July 5, 2022
Singapore: How Disneyland with a Death Penalty Approaches Crypto
June 23, 2022
I read “Singapore Regulator Vows to Be Unrelentingly Hard on Crypto.” The approach seems to be a bit different from the control mechanisms used in the US. (You will have to pay to read the orange newspaper’s story.) The write up states:
Singapore will be “brutal and unrelentingly hard” on bad behavior in the crypto industry, according to its fintech policy chief, marking a stark shift in rhetoric after years of the city-state courting the sector.
The report suggests that Singapore sees value in a central bank digital currency and a “platform” for financial activities.
From my perspective, [a] Singapore understands the potential upsides and downsides of crypto currency and wants to be a player, [b] Singapore sees a void because certain leading nation states are dithering, and [c] there’s money to be made.
Money, control, and filling a void — Good reasons perhaps.
Stephen E Arnold, June xx, 2022
NSO Group: Is This a Baller Play to Regain Its PR Initiative or a Fumble?
June 15, 2022
Secrecy and confidentiality are often positive characteristics in certain specialized software endeavors. One might assume that firms engaged in providing technology, engineering support, and consulting services would operate with a low profile. I like to think of my first meeting with Admiral Craig Hosmer. We each arrived at the DC Army Navy Club at 2 30 pm Eastern time. The Admiral told me where to sit. He joined me about 15 minutes later. The Club was virtually empty; the room was small but comfortable; and the one staff member was behind the bar doing what bartenders do: Polishing glasses.
Looking back on that meeting in 1974, I am quite certain no one knew I was meeting the Admiral. I have no idea where the Admiral entered the building nor did I see who drove him to the 17th Street NW location. My thought is that this type of set up for a meeting was what I would call “low profile.”
“US Defence Contractor in Talks to Take Over NSO Group’s Hacking Technology” illustrates what happens when the type of every day precautions Admiral Hosmer took are ignored. A British newspaper reports:
The US defence contractor L3Harris is in talks to take over NSO Group’s surveillance technology, in a possible deal that would give an American company control over one of the world’s most sophisticated and controversial hacking tools. Multiple sources confirmed that discussions were centered on a sale of the Israeli company’s core technology – or code – as well as a possible transfer of NSO personnel to L3Harris.
Okay, so much for low profiling this type of deal.
I am not sure what “multiple sources” mean. If someone were writing about my meeting the Admiral, the only sources of information would have been me, the Admiral’s technical aide (a nuclear scientist from Argonne National Laboratory), and probably the bartender who did not approach the area in which the former chair of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy were sitting.
But what have we got?
- A major newspaper’s story about a company which has made specialized services as familiar as TikTok
- Multiple sources of information. What? Who is talking? Why?
- A White House “official” making a comment. Who? Why? To whom?
- A reference to a specialized news service called “Intelligence Online”. What was the source of this outfit’s information? Is that source high value? Why is a news service plunging into frog killing hot water?
- Ramblings about the need to involve government officials in at least two countries. Who are the “officials”? Why are these people identified without specifics?
- References to human rights advocates. Which advocates? Why?
Gentle reader, I am a dinobaby who was once a consultant to the company which made this term popular. Perhaps a return to the good old days of low-profiling certain activities is appropriate?
One thing is certain: Not even Google’s 10-thumb approach to information about its allegedly smart software can top this NSO Group PR milestone.
Stephen E Arnold, June 15, 2022
Quantum Baloney Gives Money People Indigestion
June 9, 2022
I won’t mention quantum supremacy. Okay, I did mention quantum supremacy. No, I won’t explain why trivial issues like chaos make assertions about quantum computing less than a slam dunk. I will mention a report with the snappy title “The “World’s Most Powerful Quantum Computer” Is A Hoax With Staged Nikola-Style Photos – An Absurd VC Pump With A Recent Lock-Up Expiration Takes SPAC Abuses To New Extremes.” The document consumes more than 180 pages. The author or authors obviously wanted to explain that there’s a burr under the Wild Rest pony herders’ saddle.
The main idea is that a couple of academics used jargon, nice personalities, and the pixie dust of quantum computing to suck in some investment and deliver digital digital horse manure. Now is the criticism justified? I mean more than 180 pages to make clear that talking about quantum computing is really easy. Demonstrations are only a bit more difficult unless one is an expert in 18th century American buttons. (No, that’s a real thing.)
My reaction to the write up in particular and the quantum computing baloney in general is that some folks have engaged in disinformation.
From the point of view of the authors of the 180 page document, the information seems clear, reasonably well documented, and focused on making life difficult for those who cooked up the “hoax.”
From the point of view of quantum researchers, there may be a different view. What self respective quantum wizards wants to dump on a colleague unless there is a specific payoff in the criticism.
Now here’s the problem: Disinformation.
The quantum computing “discipline” is chock full of claims, reports of breakthroughs, and marketing opportunities. A good example is that one vendor has developed a quantum resistant cryptographic system using plain Jane computers using traditional methods which would be familiar to Grace Hopper.
I can envision a scenario in which the founders of the company drawn and quartered in the cited document can explain what has been accomplished. If a really tough question comes up, the Silicon Valley ploy of apologizing and sending more information may work. Competitors will be able to explain why their approach is a home run. Commercialization is just around the corner. Lawyers will be compensated to try and figure out who is on first and why is I don’t know such a popular reference.
What’s accurate? What’s not accurate?
Welcome to the remarkable world of disinformation with a touch of information weaponization.
Stephen E Arnold, June 9, 2022
Bitcoin Dip: Buy a Dubai Villa Today?
June 9, 2022
Now there is an easy way to buy property with Bitcoin—if one is looking to settle in Dubai, that is. The International Business Times reveals, “Coinsfera Makes It Easy to Buy Real Estate in Dubai with Bitcoin.” Reporter Anjali Kochhar writes:
“If a buyer is not a UAE national, then they need to have an original ID or passport to buy properties in Dubai through Bitcoin. Meanwhile, the payment through Bitcoin will be considered in US Dollars or Dirhams. The crypto exchange will help the buyers with selecting different properties at premium locations in Dubai by assigning real estate agents who will help in property dealing. After that, the company will arrange a meeting for further dealing where you can negotiate and finalize the deal. Once all things are decided, buyers can transfer the capital amount in Bitcoin through their wallet. The buyers can have possessions of the villa right after the transfer of Bitcoins. ‘Coinsfera offers luxurious apartments in the great buildings of Dubai. We will not just save your time but also your cost in the transaction process. You just have to select your apartment and we will take care of the rest,’ the statement read.”
Sounds convenient. But who are the customers? We are not sure, but some people in Russia, the Middle East, and Monaco may be interested. The service’s launch follows the passage of recent legislation designed to position the Dubai Emirate as a leader in crypto currencies, NFTs and any other virtual assets that might come along. Founded in 2015, Coinsfera is a Bitcoin exchange firm based in Dubai that also serves customers in Istanbul, London, and Kosovo.
Cynthia Murrell, June 9, 2022
NSO Group: Here We Go Again
June 1, 2022
That Israeli outfit NSO Group has nailed the art of publicity. Positive PR? Nope. Not so positive? Yep. But as a wit allegedly said, “Any publicity is good publicity?”
Maybe.
“NSO’s Cash Dilemma: Miss Debt Repayment or Sell to Risky Customers” tries to explain some of NSO Group’s alleged activities. [This Financial Times’ article resides behind a paywall.] The write up states:
Hulio [one of NSO Group’s senior managers] said there was one option to bring in some cash quickly enough to pay salaries and service debt: reassemble a defunct internal committee and approve sales to customers flagged as “elevated risk” during due diligence.
Why is this allegation of money pressures sparking consideration of sales to nation states which may present some challenges to NSO Group, its managers and staff, and its investors?
My thought is that money must be followed.
A pursuit of money sparked some actions at other search and content processing centric companies. I mentioned this idea in my recent essay “Autonomy Business Details: Are These Relevant to Search- and Content Processing Type Outfits Today?”
The decision to generate revenues seems to open the door for many ideas. Some of these are okay; for example, selling more licenses to governments of NATO countries. A few may have been less well received; for example, relaxing the criteria used to determine what countries could license Israeli surveillance innovations.
US sanctions and the PR cyclone have created a number of business challenges for NSO Group. The path forward according to the Financial Times’ article looks like this:
In recent months, Hulio has come up with a new plan dubbed the “phoenix plan” by company insiders. The idea is to split NSO’s greatest assets from its greatest liabilities — this meant separating the code behind Pegasus and company engineers who are highly paid graduates of Israel’s elite military intelligence units, from the clients that have drawn the ire of the US and human rights groups. Hulio and a group of creditors hope that by spinning out a new entity that houses the code and engineers, it can sidestep the commerce department’s blacklist, especially if a new owner were a top US defence contractor.
What’s the outlook for NSO Group? Three possibilities strike me:
- Other companies will fill the gap. Just as Cellebrite has to deal with an upstart iPhone penetration solution, NSO Group will find that its methods provide a springboard to other innovators.
- NSO Group gets folded into a government agency. One can be sure it will not be a part of a nation state with negative thoughts about Israel.
- NSO Group folds its tent, and certain senior managers and engineers set up another company and move on.
I want to mention that the reason there is a glass ceiling for revenues from intelware and policeware is that there are a finite number of customers for the number of products and services on offer. Once that glass ceiling bumps the head of senior managers and stakeholders, then what I see as “drastic” actions kick in. Are Palantir’s comments about nuclear war and example of this?
I am certain about one thing: NSO Group is one of the most recognized brands of intelware in the world.
Stephen E Arnold, June 1, 2022
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