| YouTube announces Year End video roundup
The online video community YouTube has announced the 2007 YouTube Year End Video Roundup. Through a formula that includes view counts, most shared, most discussed, top rated and general popularity, it is possible to see which YouTube videos people were thinking and talking about most.
"This year, YouTube and its users were at the forefront of politics, music, entertainment and more," said Jamie Byrne, Head of Product Marketing for YouTube. "Every day new videos are created, uploaded, discovered and popularized through the site and the videos in our year end roundup are just some of the ones that made their way into conversations both at work and at home."
Each of the following YouTube videos became a cultural phenomenon this year:
Battle at Kruger � This National Geographic-worthy footage was shot and uploaded to YouTube by a regular guy on safari with his family.
Video iPod jumpstarts PMP market
Even though Apple's video-capable iPod technically does not fit the definition of a true Portable Media Player (PMP), it has given the product class a boost, reports high-tech market research firm In-Stat. According to the research company, the worldwide market for true, video-centric PMPs will grow to 5 million units by the end of 2006, up from a mere 390,000 just two years ago. "Despite the fact that PMP shipments are finally gaining traction, suppliers and manufacturers continue to face challenges," commented Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat analyst. "PMPs will continue to compete with other portable devices offering similar functionality, such as notebook computers, portable DVD players, handheld gaming products, and other mobile devices." Over the next year, In-Stat expects that improvements in video compression technology, download video content sites, and wireless communications will help drive the PMP market.
Smith Travel will expand its impact worldwide
Based in Hendersonville, Smith Travel is the leading source of data on the lodging industry. It collects occupancy and rate information from more than 24,500 properties every month. It tells hotel chains where to build and whether they're doing better or worse than the competition. It lets visitor bureaus know how their communities' tourist industries are faring. .
First Choice picks call centre monitoring system
Tour operator First Choice has boosted customer service at its UK specialist holidays division 150-seat contact centre, based in Crawley, with a monitoring solution from Verint Systems. The workforce optimisation software specialist is supplying First Choice with its Witness Actionable Solutions Impact 360 Quality Monitoring solution. silicon.com Retail & Leisure Get the latest retail and leisure news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the R&L newsletter today! The system will be used to train, monitor and reward call centre staff in an effort to drive new sales. All conversations are recorded by the system to be reviewed by training staff and managers. The specialist holiday division supports premium customers who want a little more flexibility in their holiday arrangements and are prepared to pay for the privilege.
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