TikTok 10 minutes
TikTok, a platform I use but don’t always own up to, is now letting users make 10-minute videos.
10 minutes.
That’s forever in Internet time. It’s YouTube length. For a platform that started with a 15-second limit, this seems crazy. It’s not though. TikTok has been slowly extending the length of videos slowly over the years. I was happy to have a minute. Three minutes seems to work really well for some explanation and How-To videos.
10 minutes is something else. I think the length of the videos is less about what everyday creators will do and more about the opportunities it affords the platform.
Remember Quibi? It tried to do short form, episodic mobile video with big stars and failed spectacularly (Roku bought the content). Perhaps the failure was not about the content or actors but that there was no audience, and they were charging for it.
Now imagine TikTok launching a handful of new series on the platform and supporting them with major advertisers. They already have millions and millions of people consuming an hour of more at a time of TikTok videos, I could see one part of that being a new 10-minute episode of their favorite TikTok show.
I still don’t know what I’ll do with 10 minutes.
Ukraine cyberwar
I was reading a fascinating Twitter thread from Matthew Ingram that made it clear that there is also a significant Ukraine war raging that you can’t see and it’s all happening in cyber space.
The Russians have been attacking Ukraine infrastructure and a Ukraine IT army is attacking Russian websites and services.
Such attacks don’t necessarily damage property or lead to casualties, though an attack on a hospital’s infrastructure could have devastating effects and patients.
The fear remains that this part of the war could bleed over to U.S. systems if Russia feels particularly cornered.
Sorry, moon
A 3-ton rocket finally slammed into the far side of the moon last week. it was originally thought to be a discarded SpaceX rocket but later identified as one from a China space operation (China denies this).
It’s not great news that our space junk is slamming into Earth’s only natural satellite but since it was happening, I wanted to see it.
As I write this NASA has yet to release any details about the impact, damage, or if they have any images or videos of the impact.
When asked about it, the Moon said, “Fine, just don’t let it happen again.”
Apple Time
Today is Apple’s first big product event of 2022. We have high hopes for this one and expect to see new laptops, Apple silicon, desktop systems, displays, AirPods, Phones, and maybe more.
You can keep track of the announcements at my new home TechRadar, where I serve as U.S. Editor in Chief.
Stay well
See you soon