[GUEST BLOGGER - Marly]
Mobile phones have been revolutionised. A phone isn’t just a phone anymore. It’s a GPS, it’s the internet. It’s a television, it’s a computer. It’s a cinema, it’s a games arcade, it’s a radio. It is anything you want it to be.
After the last season of So You Think You Can Dance! I found myself completely enthralled by the prospect of mobile video, and was downloading any SYTYCD video I could get my hands on. Boring train rides – abolished. The disappointment of missing the TV segment – nonexistent. The one problem? My teeny tiny mobile screen on my old phone. SYTYCD contestants suddenly looked like tap-dancing ants – mind you, wonderfully talented tap dancing ants. So I upgraded!
When I asked around about mobile video, I got a mixed response from people. Whilst some people loved that they were able to download mobile video – sometimes even free mobile video – of their favourite shows, other people reacted with more of a “why would you want to watch videos on your mobile?” response.
I tend to be more ‘for’ mobile video than ‘against’ it. Mobile phones screens are bigger than ever, I think the screen on my new mobile rivals the TV I have in my lounge room. So watching clips streamed through to your mobile is not as impractical as you would think – not if you’ve got the right medium for it. I suppose the main downside is that you look like a bit of an idiot sitting on the train chuckling into your mobile as you watch the latest Family Guy episode. But you can’t look any worse than the ‘Nintendo DS Kids’ that keep popping up on my trains. On a side note, a shout out to the DS Kids – ‘there’s no fun in Alien Invasion if you’re just a spectator, turn the volume down, commuters aren’t enjoying the game as much as you are!’.
Most people won’t sit at home and watch or download videos onto their mobiles, not if they have the option of a bigger TV or computer screen. It’s safe to assume that most mobile video watching takes place in the public domain. Perhaps on the train, or bus, or car (unless you’re the driver, that would be a worry). So I think when it comes to mobile video, there are a few key points to be aware of and if you take them into consideration before downloading mobile video then you’ll be just fine.
ie. It’s not a good idea to download/watch video clips of porn on your mobile. At least not in public. Commuters don’t want to watch the latest Fluff and Fold with you on the train to work.
ie. Downloading funny mobile videos is fine. Laughing at them like you are in the privacy of your own home is not fine. The person opposite you doesn’t want to be wearing your spittle on their face. And if they do, put the phone down immediately and start communicating.
ie. Always wear earphones. Not everyone thinks Australian Idol is, like, the best show everrrr.
- Marly
[GUEST BLOGGER - Marly]
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