So I was looking at the A VC blog earlier today.... and there is a podcast that he and his family put together. And its really nice.

But in a world where podcasters are extremely careful to not use music controlled by the big content publishers, it is interesting that this VC has used a few copyrighted tunes. I left a comment on the blog.

This is the beginning. Small guys, even if they are VC's, using content regardless of where it comes from. People mashing. Content. Brands. Anything that is digital is going to be free....

This article from Business Week is great - particularly for a couple of the quotes about the problems at Sony BMG from Counterpane CTO, Bruce Schneier:

"Making digital files not copyable is like making water not wet"

"DRM is a desparate attempt to cling to...old business model(s). They have to figure out how to make money in the new world".

There is a lesson to be learned here for all content publishers, regardless of  what business sector they were in in the old world - they are now in the digital world, the barriers are down, and the only way to operate is within the community is as a member with equivalent voice to all their customers and consumers.

What is the ultimate end game for Web2.0? The point it reaches the ultimate, highest manifestation? After weeks of consideration, deliberation, discussion and ponderous thought, now we Perceptric, have an answer. It's the the search engine for those who can't decide what their favorite is......

                                

It should now be easier to add comments to the Perceptric Blog.
We have opened up the permissions so that you now don't have to be registered to leave comments.....

Here is a site which may be useful.... it mashes hotel locations and details together with map location. So you can click on a location and find the optimum hotel, look at the rooms, before you make your reservation.

Chris Anderson has an interesting blog about the performance of media companies' stock here.

Bottom line is that broadcast companies that are public are doing it hard.

Have a look at this search engine company. They are about to go to an IPO here in Australia. I went to a board room presentation today of the technology and the business model.

I thought it was pretty impressive. I would be interested to hear from anyone who is familiar with the company or the product. Apparently they have the ability to analyze kanji, so may have a special role in Asian region in terms of optimization of ad referral.

I like podcasts. One that I subscribe to is No Idle Frets. It is put together by Nick Carver from somewhere is Michigan. He puts out one each week and is now about 6 months in to the project - starting to sound much more relaxed than he did earlier on...

Now he has just integrated Frappr into the concept. It is great. Instead of just having a one to many podcast, now everyone who listens can show where they are on a google map. And more importantly be in communication with the virtual community that is growing around Nick's show. Great piece of innovation!

                    

 

The great thing about this Brand Mash is the total ambivalence of the symbolism. Is is the coolest thing on earth? Take off to an unknown groovy scene? A swoosh to what Fcuk stands for?

Or is it an "up yours"? An "F_off"! An 'I'll never run in this town with you or him again". It's the whole new meaning that makes mashing, what it is. Very infectious. Very insidious. 

Mash-ups? We love'em at Perceptric. They're Fun. Hip. Today. A big part of what's driving our cultures and economy's forward. We've highlighted music mash, George Bush singing John Lennon. DYI mash. Future mash. Local mash using things like google maps, craigslist, whatever.

Now we premiere;  Brand Mash.

We asked Perceptric Design to put together cool ideas, cool looks, cool companies. "Give us something which would be a new" we said. New idea. New look. New meaning.

Roxy Gilbey, our talented Perceptric Design guru (Roxy did our masthead logo. Cool isn't it?) came up with The Big Snapple inside a couple of  minutes. Sony. Apple. Together? Well, yes. I mean, AOL and Microsoft? 

But get used to it. This is the future arriving. Bits and pieces of companies, video from here, audio from there; data and ideas from everywhere; all being crunched and cramped and crimped; talking to each other and producing something new.

And Brand names?  Leading the packs within no time at all. We're just ahead of the game. For today.