Archive for the 'Internet' Category

• Tagline : The Totally Rad Show is the summer blockbuster of geek news shows
• Website : The Totally Rad Show
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• Parental Rating : 18
• Star Rating : 8 out of 10

The Totally Rad Show is one of those programmes that would have thrived on the G4/TechTV cable channel. It’s very down to earth with the very affable Alex Albrecht at the helm, also co-presenter of one of my other favorite Revision 3 shows, Diggnation, with Kevin Rose. Fortunately no grubby cable company has their hands on this or indeed any other Revision3 show and it’s for this very reason that these shows deserve to thrive. Also the fact that they’re also pretty good is another very valid reason.

Of the three hosts, Alex is the one that really holds things together. Dan Trachtenberg and Jeff Cannata, whilst being likable enough, just seem to lack that special chemistry. Admitedly we’re only at show #9, so this is something that can still develop, nonetheless it’s still enjoyable to watch.

The shows premise is to basically review movies, video games, TV, comics and all things geek. Everything seems to be above board, rather than a sycophantic vehicle for PR.

One of the major criticisms I have of the show, is that the sound levels seem to flail all over the place. One minute I’m turning up the sound to hear what is being said and the next, I’m hunting for the remote to turn it down again, especially when our hosts are laughing and joking around.

Conclusion: It’s still the early days for the show. While it’s still a bit rough around the edges, the content is great and I imagine it will go from strength to strength.

• Tagline : Tech Web News Video
• Website : commandN.tv
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• Parental Rating : G
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

Originally started as a low key video experiment, I can still remember the very first episode, recorded on an Apple Mac laptop with an iSight web camera. Cerainly not the recommended setup, but it did the job and just look at them now. Originally hosted by Amber MacArthur and Mike Lazazzera, ex co-hosts of the cable show Call for Help, they are now joined by Amber’s brother Jeff amongst others, with Mike now working on other things, but certain to return for the odd guest spot.

So what is commandN.tv? The very name implies something to do with Apple computers. While I think the earlier shows were very Mac orientated, but they now cover much more general technology material. The pace of the show is very relaxed, which has got a lot do do with Amber and previously Mike, who had a great chemistry. I can actually remember Amber in the early days of Call for Help, when the show relocated from the US to Canada. I hope she doesn’t mind me saying, but in those early days she came across as very nervous, but has gone on to develop a great screen presence.

Now up to it’s 73rd show, it’s released on the whole every week, with each show around the 20 minute mark, which I find a very digestible length. The professional experience of everyone involved is obvious, as everything about the production is spot on. Certainly a definite vidcast to subscribe to for anyone with the smallest interest in what’s happening in the technology world.

Conclusion : A great vidcast for the technology geek, with some less nerdy stuff for those just getting to grip with technology.