Domain Name, Internet, News Blog

Domainstate Forum has carried out a feature story in one of today’s posts about internationalized domain names (IDNs). IDNencyclopedia spoke to one domainer. The article entitled “the founding father” basically describes the fortunes of the domainer who saw the potential in IDNs and dived with headfirst into the Japanese domain industry market. The articled continues, Craig Nine a seo consultant and web developer who is living in Japan, has one of the strongest Japanese IDNs portfolio.

This underpins the underlying potential of IDNs many domainers dont seem to realize. One discouraging factor for domainers from IDNs could be the the mapping system otherwise known as punnycode. I would say that many domainers think that internet users are going to type say Japanese in puny code which is not true. Another challenge to domainers is the low SEO value associated with English domains targeted at the Japanese.

But the outlook of IDNs has remained generally positive ever since Nine began a forum known as IDNForums.com for a better understanding of the IDN market.

However, the article concludes by saying there is no future just for everyone with IDNs. Those domainers who are timid of writing in other language will find it hard to establish themselves within the IDNs market.

After reading this article, I have decided to join IDNForums to gain a better insight into the IDNs market and development.

Apple is recalling at least 1.8m batteries after incessant overheating complaints. The laptop computers mostly affected are Powerbook G4 and Ibook G4. Apple’s decision comes barely one week after Dell announced a massive recall program of 4m batteries last week. Like Dell laptop computer announcement, Apple has recalled batteries for laptops sold between 2003 and 2006.

Important to note though is that the latest recall by Apple does not affect its new line of Powerpc and powerpro notebooks.

A statement posted on Apple’s official website read, “we discovered that some sony batteries in previous models do not meet Apples’s standards for safety and performance.”

The latest recall of batteries by the PC giants can been attributed to US safety officials who have explicitly stated that the faulty batteries were supplied by Sony.

As owner of a Dell Latitude D600 notebook, I have already noted signs of overheating signs. With one of the largest battery recalls underway, it is important for other PC giants to note vital lessons from what has happened to their two competitors and take adequate measures to prevent the same.

There is certainly a degree of image dent involved here for the two PC Companies. The Consumer Product Protection Commision (US) has come true on its promise to make public any PC customer complaints like in the latest case in which 9 people sustained minor burns from laptop battery explosions.

Oh, no! This has happened as I was just about to make a historical switch from being a PC to being a Mac user-cum-owner. I beg for a rest now.

Today’s news making headlines around the world are mainly technology related. Film giant Sony Pictures Entertainment has bought video sharing website grouper.com for $65m. This calls upon financial and market analysts to speculate what company might just buy YouTube.

On a separate story, it is now official that social networking site Facebook has entered into a deal with Microsoft.

Today’s topics are:
- Sony splashes out on video site Grouper
-Microsoft adCenters on Facebook

Some had long been speculating that Sony could just buy YouTube which has traffic at least 30 times that of Grouper.com. If YT was to sell today, in order to be fair it would go for no less than a $1bn.
Marshall Kirkpatrick doesn’t think the comparison is all that applicable, though. His thesis: Sony is buying Grouper for the P2P, and while $65 million might be a trivial expense for Sony, why not use The Torrents if all you are mainly interested in is P2P distribution?

That’s a fair question, but with all due respect to this type of argument, I think that YouTube is not about distribution so much as it is an opportunity to monetize the content contributions and associated product and lifestyle marketing choices that tie in with audiences of millions who create their own digital content.

Grouper has build three key technologies: an online video sharing site, a desktop video editor, and a closed p2p network for distributing media content. Sony was attracted to Grouper by is p2p client network which it says will help it to share low quality videos online and distribute DVD quality video.
The big question now remains who is going to acquire YT. I think that the rationale for a YT deal would follow more of a Flickr or MySpace acquisition model. Some of the potential buyers for YT include Yahoo or any of the media giants like Time Warner and News Corp.I still think Yahoo! would be the best acquirer, if only for the opportunity to build on their Flickr base.

That’s not to say some other companies would do well to pursue content distribution deals with YouTube. What about, say, Time Warner. affiliating with, or buying a minority stake in YouTube and then offering self-made video distribution to all those Match.com members?

Microsoft adCenters on Facebook
Microsoft is said to have entered into a search and ad banner deal with Facebook. This is seen as an opportunity for Microsofr to counter the most recent deal struck between Google and Myspace for search and ad banners.

Facebook has so far made light use of of advertising on its site. It has only experimented with light user generated “flyers” and sponsored groups by companies like Apple.

Facebook has about nine million members, compared to MySpace’s 100 million.

Microsoft has obtained court orders to sue what it termed as typo and cybersquatters who are heavily infringing on its Trademark. In what is perhaps a new twist in the domain industry, MS through a court order has dispatched subpoenas to 3 people who it accused of have allegedly registering hundreds of typos infringing on the trademark “Microsoft “.
My topics for today include:
-Microsoft sues cybersquatters
-Mamboserver templates

Microsoft sues cybersquatters
The domain industry was left in uncertainty today, especially for small players, when Microsoft announced that it had obtained a court order to presecute at least three domainers who has registered hundreds of domains infringing on its trademark. In what appears to be a twist in the industry, if found guilty, the accused will have to pay $100k per domain in terms of compensation for damages. There might be a wake up call for other companies to follow in the shoes of Microsoft. Through speculation, it is possible that many domainers parking domains infringing on the MS trademark will take them offline or sell them off at law ball prices to avoid possible charges. Among the illegitimate websites that have been pinpointed by MS include www.rebatesmicrosoft.com and msnfinance.com plus others. In an official statement posted on its website today, MS claims that the fresh charges against fraudsters have been precipitated by the high number of domains and websites being setup daily infringing on its name. Read the statement here. There are at least 2000 domains registered daily by domainers and parked for third parties paying through PPC (pay per click) model for their ads to appear on them. The PPC business model is legitimate. The credit, for Microsoft’s success in unravelling the massive infringements on its trademark name goes, to the invention of the MSR Strider URL tool. This tool creates typos and patrols the net to identify their exact IP address location. For a preview download it here.

Mamboserver templates
Last but not least, today I discovered very nice mambo templates. For example ddclean olive, planetfall. You may download all these at www.dezinedepot.com.

Today marks my first day of holiday. Finally I can afford some space to breath as my two week holiday commences. Although I am not actually resting because of several website design projects, there are many places to visit in Switzerland in addition starting with Lausane, Zurich, Bern and Geneva.

My topics of discussion today are:
-Africa Online ISP
-2 week holiday
-Future plans
-Mamboserver

Africa Online ISP
Today I learnt that everything is possible when I read about the story about Africa Online–an Internet Service Provider company–which was borne out of a small idea by two MIT students from Kenya. In spite having started as a news website, Africanonline has grown over the years to become an internet conglomerate in East, Central Africa and Southern Africa. I think everything is possible given those behind the idea have the determination and courage to accomplish it. When I lost a couple of hundred Euros at my registrar in July, I learnt that investments are a great risk. Entrepreneurs regardless of size should be ready to pay the price called risk.

2 week summer holiday
Yes, I will reiterate again that I on a 2 week holiday which started today. During these two weeks I expect to conduct a lot of R&D for my business. I have set a target to find or register at least 3o revenue domain names. I know it is a tall order for me to set but I am ready to work my ass off at the expense of a couple of my sleeping hours. Once again I expect the DRT tool to be of immense help when search for typos. Long live typos and TM as domainers look forward to milk them all through PPC business model.

Future plans
Well, there are other things that I need to attend to. First of all is to do research for a Masters School to join next year. When Fall semester begins, I will enter my penultimate year at the university. It is either break or die as the battle to improve my GPA hots up. I need luck from you all folks. It is time also for me to prepare for the GMAT/GRE exam. Until now it is not yet clear what exam I should take but I am more or less inclined to do the former.

Mamboserver
Last but not least I have to learn mamboserver software in order to update my website. Although not new to website design, mamboserver was not a piece of cake. It will take quite sometime to make real progress but there is an incentive to it that I would not disclose here. That’s it for now. Stay tuned for updates!

Welcome to DNSBlogs.com “World Domain News Blogspot”. I have decided to start this blog to discuss and share views with domainers and other web enthusiasts..
DNSBlogs.com is a blog to present analyses on current world domain news and events. Themes discussed on this blog range from on technology, politics, and economy as these are related to how they might affect your web presence. The blog is a quasi interface for a domainer like me who started from scratch this year and made it into the four digit within a few months. I would also aim to share my thoughts with my fellow friends back at home in Kenya, those from Germany (where I study) and from the rest of the world not forgetting my business partners, affiliates and acquaintances.

The first news topics for “World Domain News Blogspot” will be:
-Reached 900 posts @DNForum
-Adsense @Sitepoint and Digital Point Forums
-EarnersForum

Reached 900 posts @the DNForum
Today I have clocked 900 posts in the top domain discussion forum DNForum. This is not small achievement given that have only been a member there for only 5 months. I have benefitted quite tremendously out of the DNForum. If i had not joined, I would neither have made the great business partners that I have nor hatched successful business deals that I have. I owe the moderate success that I have made with domains to the DNForum. I am looking forward to upgrade my status soon from my current level Platinum to Exclusive. Althouth I would not asking you to join but if you have been interested in the DNforum after reading my review please click here

Adsense @Sitepoint and Digital Point Forums
In my quest to diversify my business, I have finally decided to apply for a Google Adsense account. I am crossing my fingers and hope that I will be accepted. Meanwhile, in order to boost my internet business repertoire, I have decided to join two more forums namely Sitepoint and Digital Point. These are free forums. They are fairly large forums with a lot of information for any internet interested parties. What matters is the quality of research that I would like to do in order to sift chaff from wheat. These two sites will bost my R&D in enhancing my ROI which I hope in the long run will improve into decent revenue. I will keep you posted with details on any future updates on this one. Besides if you would like to join either of those forums above feel free to apply here:
Sitepoint @ sitepoint.com
Digitalpoint @forums.digitalpoint.com

Earnersforum.com
Last but not least, I have decided to join a leading forum for internet business earners. EarnersForum.com is the place to be for anyone who would like to triumph in internet business. However, I am only one week old since I joined I have already been able to make a friend which I consider an achievement. To learn from each other is the best business model that we should all emulate. I would keep you posted with further details about my activities there.