Founder, Imdad Capital Ltd.
The next big thing, of this I have no question.
Check out http://www.qdos.com - to check how popular you are in the digital world.
Launched by Garlik last night at Somerset House, this is set to be the next online craze.
Don't believe me, just try it and you will find it is addictive.
As for me, I am pretty much focused on how to get my QDOS score higher.
Best wishes,
Shamsa
PS Tom - job well done!
Just a short note to say that I hope everyone has a happy thanksgiving and this day finds you well.
Its always wonderful to have a day to reflect on the past year and to be truly grateful for what one had received.
And, just for fun, here is: Sean Kingston: Beautiful Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt6o8NlrbHg
Dear All,
I am taking a short sabbatical from blogging. I hope to re-connect with you in the future. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank you for reading my thoughts about the digital space. This past year was an exciting one and I wish you the very best in your lives and your careers.
With best wishes,
Shamsa
Was so completely swept off my feet yesterday that I didn't get to my laptop until about 11.30PM to blog, so thought - just leave it. I think that the downturn in the economy has now officially commenced and am sharing my evidence of the same. I hope I am wrong, but I do not think I am.
Risk of securities fire sale mounts
By David Wighton and Saskia Scholtes in New York and Gillian Tett in London
Published: November 6 2007 19:23 | Last updated: November 7 2007 00:16
The risk of fire sales of mortgage-backed securities was rising on Tuesday after rating downgrades pushed a clutch of complex debt vehicles into default, threatening a further escalation of the turmoil caused by the subprime mortgage meltdown.
The prospect of forced sales comes as a US Treasury-backed plan for a “superfund” to buy up distressed mortgage securities appears to have stalled.
Rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have received default notices for $5bn worth of the vehicles, known as collateralised debt obligations, giving holders of senior debt the right to sell assets.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Am in need of a break and therefore, I am sharing one of my favourite songs from KT Tunstall who performed last evening at the RoundHouse and was absolutely fantastic.
Wonderful peformance & quite fun with the Halloween theme and fancy dress.
Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmjIyOV_e2Q
The first set of reviews on Hulu are coming through and it seems that it might be a winner with a difference. I kind of like the approach in terms of delivering premium content, I think there might be something here....anyway, it feels like there is something here.
First Look: Hulu Combines Ease of Use, Content, Advertising, Wired
Broadcasters can't deny that video-sharing sites like YouTube have promotional potential, but NBC Universal and News Corp. have had enough. Hardly impressed with YouTube's attempts to placate copyright owners like themselves, the two media giants set out to create their own online distribution platform, called Hulu, which launches to a limited audience today.
For NBC and News Corp. the hook was simple enough. By pooling their content (along with shows from cable channels including Bravo, E!, the SciFi Channel, USA and others) on their own website, they could create a relatively safe haven from piracy while still getting their hottest shows in front of an internet audience. From that central idea, the assembled parties designed Hulu, drawing on the elements that made broadcast television a success -- a closed platform, and regularly updated content and advertising.
Based on our test drive, it seems like Hulu got most of the formula right.
The user interface is what we've come to expect from web video players -- slick and Flash-based. Viewing content works almost exactly as it does on YouTube. The control panel is hidden; you roll the mouse over the player window to reveal options to share the video via e-mail, get its URL, embed it into your own site, or "pop out" the player into its own window. Our favorite (and the most superfluous) command was the option to "lower the lights." Once you toggle that option, the browser window surrounding the video goes from white to dark gray to add emphasis to the onscreen action.
Despite the familiar interface, the most glaring difference between Hulu and its would-be peers is the lack of an upload option. Since the site is a promotional tool for its owners, the focus is entirely on distributing premium content. There's no option for users to upload content, remix it or produce their own mashups. On Hulu, the networks are running the show.
Hulu hosts an impressive list of shows (and even a few movies), but there are quite a few shortcomings. For instance, only the current seasons of popular shows like Heroes and House are available. And Hulu does not allow you to download video to your computer for later viewing. If you want to delve into previous seasons or download content for keeps, you're better off purchasing the DVD or trying your luck with iTunes.
From NBC and News Corp.'s perspective, of course, Hulu's killer feature is advertising.
Unsurprising news - but probably not the first, nor the last person who will fall victim to the recent credit market turmoil. Sad day, but a right off of $8Bn is no small change.
O’Neal poised to step down at Merrill
By David Wighton in New York
Published: October 28 2007 15:36 | Last updated: October 28 2007 19:19
Stan O’Neal was poised to step down as chief executive of Merrill Lynch on Sunday, making him the biggest casualty of the recent credit market turmoil.
A number of the Wall Street bank’s directors had lost confidence in his leadership, rendering his position untenable, according to people close to the situation.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Now that is BIG news!
Merrill Lynch stuns with an $8bn subprime hit
Pressure builds on chief executive as the bank unveils Wall Street's biggest hit from risky mortgage debt
Merrill Lynch stunned Wall Street after it admitted to a far bigger loss than expected arising from toxic subprime mortgage-backed investments.
The investment bank said it would write-down $7.9 billion the third quarter of the year to cover bad investments and the falling price of mortgage-backed collateral it usedto raise money.
The write-down was far bigger than either the bank or Wall Street had expected. Last month, Merrill Lynch said that it had to write down $4.5 billion because some of the investments it made in bonds backed by mortgage assets were effectively worthless. Wall Street analysts expected that the bank would take a $7 billion charge, as a worst case scenario.
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