Google and YouTube crush the competition
August 25, 2007
If you own 60% of the market and your number 2 competitor's market share is merely one-third of what you have, that, my friend, is how you crush the competition. YouTube and parent company Google are exceptional examples of companies trashing competitors in their respective fields.
Most of us know that Google is currently the leading search engine worldwide while YouTube remains as the #1 online video sharing site. But not all of us know that both Google and YouTube command a 60% share of their respective markets while their #2 competitors content themselves with having only a third of these market shares.
YouTube users say “No!” to overlay ads
August 24, 2007
Overlay ads on YouTube videos suck!
That's what most users seem to be saying, if the majority of comments posted on YouTube's official blog are to be believed. (See article: You Drive the YouTube Experience)
On August 21, video sharing site YouTube announced that they have started incorporating "in-video" advertisements on select partner videos. These ads are semi-transparent overlays that cover the bottom 20% of the video screen and then disappear after 10 seconds if no action is done. If a user clicks on it, the video ad plays in the same player but in a slightly smaller size. At the end of the ad or if the ad clip is closed, the original video resumes playing.
Here's a screenshot of a sample overlay ad promoting the upcoming "Hairspray" movie on a FordModels' video about a beauty tip.
A lot of YouTube users appear to vehemently oppose the new advertising method. (Click "Read More" to view some of these comments.)
PSE Weekly Stock Market Update (Aug. 13-17)
August 21, 2007
Due to lingering concerns in the US subprime market, the main index of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) ended the week lower at 2,884.34, down by 13.96%.
Losers swamped gainers, 159 to 18. Eight shares were unchanged.
Average daily value turnover for the week was P5.008 billion.
The Year-to-Date (i.e., beginning of the year until this week) performance of the different sectors is as follows:
- PSEi : 2,884.34 ; -3.29%
- All Shares Index : 1,865.22 ; 0.26%
- Financial Sector : 791.76 ; -3.78%
- Industrial Sector : 3,951.80 ; 0.29%
- Holding Firms Sector : 1,593.25 ; -7.97%
- Property Sector : 1,310.93 ; 3.90%
- Services Sector : 1,389.63 ; -6.80%
- Mining and Oil Sector : 4,472.15 ; -1.23%
Legend: First number - Week's Closing ; Second number - YTD % change
Here are this week's top 10 gainers and losers.
E*Trade email phishing alert
August 20, 2007
Today I received another phishing email – emails that look like an official letter from a trusted bank, credit card company, or payment processor but is actually a type of deception designed to steal one’s personal data.
The email intends to trick E*Trade Financial (www.etrade.com) users into providing their personal information which will be used for identity theft.
Don’t fall for these fake emails! Find out how you can protect yourself by reading the following articles:
- How to detect phishing emails: What is phishing?
- How phishing websites work: Beware of the fake egold website!
- How to protect oneself against phishers: Fight the phishing sites!
- Sample phishing emails: E-gold PayPal Yahoo Gmail
Copy of the E*Trade phishing email after the jump.
PIPC investigation update: Filipinos invested $138M but only $2M remains
August 20, 2007
Latest report from the Court-appointed liquidator for the beleaguered forex trading firm Performance Investments Products Corporation (PIPC) showed that only $2 million remains from a total of $138 million that Filipinos alone invested.
Beware of the fake PinoyGoldeXchange (PGX) admin
August 18, 2007
Be wary of people adding you via Yahoo! Messenger and pretending to be connected with PinoyGoldeXchange (PGX), a Philippine-based egold exchanger. A few PMT members reported that someone using the Yahoo! ID pgx_0nline would introduce himself as someone from PGX and invite the intended victim to join another investment cycle of PGX.
At present, PGX is not soliciting funds for any investment program. Also be advised that the official Yahoo! ID of PGX is pgx_online, NOT pgx_0nline. The ONLY official site is www.pinoygoldexchange.net.
Read the fake PGX guy's modus operandi here: Warning: Scammer pretending to be PGX
The official discussion forum for PGX is here: PinoyGoldeXchange (PGX) folder
The ‘US Subprime Lending Problem’ — explained in simple terms
August 17, 2007
Global stock markets are down, investors are on selling mode, and almost all of 2007’s stock gains have been wiped out. The culprit, analysts say, is the current US subprime lending problem.
The subprime — what? And if it’s supposed to be a problem in the US, why is it affecting markets in Europe and Asia?
Read below to view a simplified explanation of the US subprime lending problem.
Edu Manzano to host Philippine version of “1 vs. 100″ game show
August 17, 2007
It's Edu, not Kris. As host of the local version of the "1 vs. 100" game show, that is.
It was rumored several weeks ago that Kris Aquino, currently the host of "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal," was set to become the game master of ABS-CBN's newest game show, "1 vs. 100".
Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) reported yesterday, however, that an ABS-CBN insider revealed that "Game KNB?" host Edu Manzano will be the one to host the new game show. The show is set to start on August 25.
Want to see a sample of the "1 vs. 100" game show? Click the link.
Want to join the mob or be the one? Text MOB <name/age/gender/address/landline number> to 2366 (Globe, TM, Sun Cellular) or 231 (Smart, Talk n Text, Addict Mobile).
Discuss ABS-CBN's newest game show in the TV Game Show: 1 vs.100 thread in the PMT Forum.
Markets are down… is it time to buy, hold, or sell fund investments?
August 15, 2007
Markets worldwide are on a slide due to subprime lending concerns in the US. Even the Philippine stock market is not spared. After experiencing a series of all-time highs during past months, Philippine equities are currently on a downtrend.
So if you have stocks, mutual funds, or unit investment trust funds (UITF) holdings, is it time to dispose of them, hold on to them, or buy more?
Click "Read More" to see a few PMT members' opinions.
PFEC’s announcement published in Philippine newspapers
August 14, 2007
Here's a copy of the public notice from Performance Forex Exchange Corporation (PFEC) recently published in local newspapers.
NOTICE
This is to inform the public that Performance Forex Exchange Corporation (PFEC), a member of the Solid Gold Group, is a legitimate foreign exchange platform provider.
Again, we thank our clients for their continued trust and confidence as we take all appropriate steps to address any misconception brought about by recent news reports on PFEC's perceived connection with PIPC Corp. and Performance Investment Products Corporation (BVI), and/or Michael Liew.
Join the discussion in the PFEC: Performance Foreign Exchange Corporation thread in the PMT Forum.
Also visit PIPC: Performance Investment Products Corporation for more PIPC-related news and discussion.
