Digital convergence of news media was called "Mediamorphosis" by researcher Roger Fidler. He actually published a book entitled, "Mediamorphosis: Understanding New Media", wherein he gives the 6 fundamental principles in mediamorphosis (page 29).

1. coevolution and coexistence
2. metamorphosis
3. propagation
4. survival
5. opportunity and need
6. delayed adoption

According to the definitions of propagation and survival:

"Emerging forms of communication media propagate dominant traits from earlier forms. These traits are passed on and spread through communicatory codes called languages. While survival states that all forms of communication media, as well as media enterprises are compelled to adapt and evolve for survival in a changing environment. Their only other option is to die."

Based on these assumptions and from what we are already experiencing, methods in gathering information is almost the same, what's noticeable are (1) broadcasters and journalists are provided nowadays with multi-purpose devices like smartphones or PC tablets, so they can publish news via different technologies and (2) how they broadcast news, again they have their laptops or PC tablets so they can also check real time news from other websites.

In terms of producing devcom materials for print and radio, we would often see and hear URLs of websites, this is considered as brand extension in order to promote news from their own sites (online version) or other 3rd party sources like Twitter or Facebook.

In reality, traditional media would not be lost in this technological synergy. I believe that the process in gathering news, designing or layouting of magazines or newspapers, are also applied when creating webpages. The target audience is still the same, what's really changing is the transfer from a physical form (in this case, paper) to virtual form.

The USB tethering feature of Android Froyo allows you to share your phone's mobile network with a laptop or desktop computer, which is similar to the concept of using a usb modem (stick) or dongle.

The 3 major telcos in the Philippines today thar offer mobile broadband services are Globe, Smart and Sun cellular. In the image below, I have Globe Tattoo and Smart Bro USB modems, as you can see I don't have a Sun Cellular USB modem, however, what I do have is a Sun cellular prepaid sim card and an Android Froyo powered HTC Desire. I will use USB tethering to complement what I lack.

Below are the details on how to use this feature:

The essentials:

1. Configure the correct Access Point Name (APN) for your mobile phone. If you have no idea how to do this, contact your telco's customer service. (for prepaid Globe subscribers in the Philippines check my previous post about APN config)
2. Android version 2.2 (codename: Froyo) should be installed on your phone
3. HTC Micro USB data cable
4. Install HTC Sync on your computer.

HTC Sync

HTC Sync serves as a device content manager for your phone using a computer and also installs the required device drivers. By default, the file for this software is already on your phone's SD card, if ever you accidentally deleted this file on your phone, you can go to this link (HTC Sync for all HTC Android Phones) to download the file.

After dowloading and installing HTC Sync, connect your phone to the computer via the micro USB data cable then proceed to HTC Sync device setup. Make sure that 'HTC Sync' is selected in your 'Connect to PC' screen.

You don't really need to sync all of the contents of your phone to the PC at this time, we just have to make sure that HTC Sync can detect your phone and has a saved profile for it.

Just to make sure that everything is working, disconnect your phone from the PC, restart your computer, reconnect your phone to the PC (make sure that 'HTC Sync' is selected in your 'Connect to PC' screen); check if HTC Sync can already detect your phone automatically.

This is a one time setup, you don't need to open this software everytime you want to use USB tethering.

USB Tethering

1. Turn on 'Mobile Network'. There are 2 ways to do this:
   • Do a long press on the power button, on the "Phone options" screen, tap on "Mobile Network" to turn it on (or off).

     

   • Go to "Settings" > "Wireless & Networks" > Tap on the checkbox to turn it on
2. Connect your phone to the PC using the micro USB data cable
3. This time in the "Connect to PC" screen, select USB tethering

   

4. On the taskbar, click on the network connection icon, you would see that a new active network is added on the list. You might get a different name for the new connection. Select the new network and start browsing. Yippee!

   

Here's the the "Local Area Connection Properties" for the new network connection:

I guess this answers a friend's question, 'no? :)

This is a tutorial on how you can use your HTC Desire – Android Froyo as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot via a paid mobile internet.

On your Phone:

1. Make sure that you have configured the APN for your phone, otherwise call your network’s customer service to learn how. (for Globe prepaid subscribers check my previous post about APN config)

   

2. Configure the ‘Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings’.
   • Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Wi-fi and networks’ > tap on ‘Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings’
   • Fill out the following fields:
     1. Router name: <mine is ‘HTC Network’>
     2. Security: <mine is WPA (TKIP)>
     3. Password : <I recommend to use this feature to prevent strangers from connecting to your phone.>
     4. Press ‘menu’ button > Tap on ‘Advanced’
        • Wi-Fi Channel : <default is Auto>
        • LAN Settings : <leave as is if you don’t know what to put on these fields>
        • Power mode:  <tap to choose what would happen in case of prolonged inactivity>
     5. Tap on ‘Manage users’
        • Enable ‘Allowed users only’
        • Tap on ‘Max. connections’ to increase or decrease the number of allowed connections. Your options are from 2-8.
3. Turn on ‘Mobile Network’.

   There are 2 ways to do this:

   • By doing a long press on the power button and tap ‘Mobile Network’ to switch on or off
   • By going to Settings > Wireless and Networks > Tap on the checkbox for ‘Mobile Network’
4. Turn on hotspot. Go to ‘Settings’ > Wireless and Networks > Tap on the checkbox. The ‘Wi-Fi hotspot active’ icon shows up on the topmost left of the screen.

On your computer:

Check the wireless network connections available, you will now see the “HTC Network” as an option. Select this network and enter the password you have previously set.  Surf and enjoy.

In your phone do the following:

• Go to ‘Settings’
• Select ‘Wireless and Networks’
• Tap on ‘Mobile Networks’
• Choose ‘Access Point Names’
• Press ‘menu’ button and select  “New APN”
• In the “Add/Edit Access Point” screen you will mostly type the following values for these fields:

1.       Name: myglobeconnect

2.       APN: http.globe.com.ph

3.       Proxy:  <should be blank>

4.       Port:  <should be blank>

5.       Username:  <should be blank>

6.       Password: <should be blank>

7.       Server:  <should be blank>

8.       MMSC: <should be blank>

9.       MMS proxy: <should be blank>

10.   MMS port: <should be blank>

11.   MMS protocol:  Wap 2.0 <select the default value; leave as is>

12.   MCC: 515

13.   MNC: 02

14.   Authentication type: select ‘None’

15.   APN type: either type ‘default’ or ‘internet’

If it doesn’t work instantly you might want to go to an area which has a strong signal. You could also turn off your phone, remove the battery and turn on after a minute and try reconnecting by turning on "Mobile Network" in the "Wireless and Networks" screen; or try doing a long press on the power button and tap on "Mobile Network" to either turn it on or off.

You can always delete the APN presets of your phone if you like and set a new APN. You can return these anytime, while on the APN’s screen press the ‘menu’ button and select ‘Reset to default’. Warning: this would delete all the APN changes you had made.

You will see this icon when you've successfully connected to the mobile network.

Fee: PHP 5.00 for 15 minutes

For my next two articles, I would discuss how to use your HTC Desire (or Andoid Froyo) as a USB modem or a portable WI-FI hotspot.

             Being a web programmer, my work is closely tied to what the new media has to offer. The great amount of time that I spend in writing programs and browsing the internet puts me at a favorable situation to discuss second orality and its effects in the social construction of reality, ideology, power and domination. My reflection about the aforementioned subjects and concepts would be mostly based on Walter J. Ong’s book, Orality and Literacy.

            Ong stated in his book, Orality and Literacy,that a “second orality” is arising in Western societies with the advent of telephone, television and new electronic technologies”. I’d like to believe that Ong had successfully predicted what we are all experiencing at this day and age on the web, which is the profound publication of user-generated content.

I was also surprised that Ong included writing computer programs in his study, and considered it to be a performative literature. I agree when he expressed that although writing programs is not seen as a form of writing by the current literary tradition, it has subgenres that make up the performative works which most education people today encounter most frequently. [1]

After reading Gidden’s formulation of the dialectic of control as a process of enablement as well as constraint [2], I have come to realize that yes, the web applications that I create provoke human interaction and somehow there’s power and domination in my creation since my software defines the scope and limitation of usability, especially if internet users would rely on my application because it offers some information or interactivity that they would find dependable or addictive.

Affirming in a study entitled, “The Media Construction of Everyday Reality”, it stated that “media operates upon several levels in influencing and shaping both worldview and cultural and psychological patterning of human behavioral response”[3], Considering that new media has adopted the presentation and content of traditional media, at least to some extent, I believe that the current state of the World Wide Web is now almost equal in changing and shaping the point of view of those people who are considered to be free thinkers. To prove this point I remember how President Barack Obama, the first African-American president, launched an evolutionary campaign on the web, which immensely influenced and convinced internet users in the United States to vote for him. He was one of the first successful politicians to harness the potencial of the web.

Ong affirmed that with the development of print, Western culture moved event further away from a hearing dominated sensory world to one governed by sight [4], I suppose this has been more compelling in the advent of Web 2.0. He also goes to great pains to indicate that he feels that neither orality nor literacy is superior[4]. I agree with him. I believe that an idea is still an idea, regardless of whatever form an idea is presented. It doesn’t matter which medium is superior or inferior, what’s important is how both technology or method promotes growth and helps human beings in reaching their full potential.

 References:

[1] Orality and Literacy; Walter Ong; http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~mhalber/Research/Guides/ong-oral.html

[2] Communication and Power in organizations: Discourse, Ideology and Domination; Dennis K. Mumby; http://www.cjc-online.ca/index.php/journal/article/viewFile/570/476

[3] The Media Construction of Everyday Reality;  Feb 2005; http://www.lewismicropublishing.com/Publications/SystemsEssaysIII/MediaConstructionEverydayLifeSEIII.htm

[4] Review of Walter J. Ong's Orality and Literacy; http://www.engl.niu.edu/wac/ong_rvw.html