Archive for the 'News' Category

• Website : The Venice Project

Creating buzz for a new product is a difficult thing, but when done successfully, can lead to big time exposure. Ginger was a case in point, later morphing into the Segway personal transport device. Couple that with an invitation only policy for initial versions and you get people clamouring at the gates for a sneak peak. Google’s Gmail service is probably the best example of that tactic. Mix the the two together and you end up with something quite special, that something special in this case is The Venice Project (TVP), the next creation from the people who brought you Kazaa and Skype.

TVP is a new media system, delivering on demand content. Currently the content isn’t it’s strongest feature, but as more and more content providers sign on, you can expect some great programs. There’s currently no support for vidcasts, but this would be an incredible addition to TVP and indeed podcasts would also make this a real killer app.

The current version of the software is Windows only, but a Mac OSX version is in the pipeline. It’s currently quite resource hungry, causing my 2.6ghz PC with 1 gig of ram to splutter occasionally, but nothing that distracts too much from the viewing experience. On my work machine, a Pentium Duo with 2 gig of ram, it runs like a dream.

The user interface is simple and smooth. It could probably do with some slight simplification, but seeing as most users are either going to be using a keyboard or mouse, these simplifications can wait until a simple remote is available.

This is a product with great potential. The download is relatively small at just under 11 megabytes, but it certainly packs a nice punch. For pre-release software, it’s very robust. I haven’t had a single problem or crash so far, but some beta testers are reporting problems with installation. This is usually a conflict in software or hardware installed.

As this is streaming video, it’s bandwidth usage is pretty high, about 300 meg an hour. For anyone with bandwidth restrictions, this is worth noting. You wouldn’t want to leave the software running and go away for a few days, but it’s nothing that’s a great surprise, given the medium.

So early indications are that it’s coming along nicely. Whilst not quite ready for a full release, more and more beta testers are being given the opportunity to sign on. Vidcast Launchpad itself is a beta tester. Beta testers can get the opportunity to receive invitations, which they can send out to their friends and colleagues. This is a great idea, as it allows TVP to control the uptake, but constantly stressing it’s servers more and more.

Definitely something to keep your eye on.

• 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.

• Tagline : A three minute daily videoblog based in New York City.
• Website : Rocket Boom
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• Parental Rating : 15
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

If all new readers were as effervescent and bubbly as the host of Rocket Boom, Amanda Congdon, the news wouldn’t suck the life out of you, with it’s tails of doom and gloom. As it is, the news is grey and so’s the bleedin’ weather at the moment, but don’t get me started on that. I’m English after all, the weather is our favorite pastime.

Rocket Boom is a 3 minute, daily vidcast of news, with an arts, science and technology bent. What really makes this vidcast work, is the ever expressive and enthusiastic Amanda. Started in October of 2004, there’s certainly not many vidcasts older and certainly not many released as frequently. You’re not going to hear about the latest murders downtown, or what’s happening with the latest drug busts, but you can be assured that a smile or two is coming your way.

The subject matter covered is diverse and there’s even the occasional guest presenter, which usually means those particular episodes aren’t as light and jovial, but it’s always entertaining stuff.

Conclusion : For a brief respite to the everyday drudgery, this is a great way to while away a few minutes. Even if you have no interest in the days subject matter, Amanda is always a pleasant distraction.

• Tagline : Breaking News, Broken Reporters
• Website : Goodnight Burbank
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• Parental Rating : 15
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

What do you get when you cross real news with a couple of anchor people who have clearly seen better days (or are just awful)? Why Goodnight Burbank of course. Our two anchor people in question, clearly have a hate, hate relationship and I can’t help be reminded of an old British show called “Drop the Dead Donkey”. The vidcast is between the 5-7 minute mark and only covers their on-air antics and pauses between taped material and outside broadcasts. The show covers real news items and I have to say the satire is sometimes very close to the bone and I love it.

Our main protagonists are Gordon Winston-Smythe, a poncy British, mistake of a man, who would clearly poison himself, if he bit his own tongue and Susan Jones, or Ho-ness as she corrects Gordon’s pronunciation, all too frequently. Popping in on occasion is Trisha Sakamoto, the poor weather girl, who sometimes only gets a couple of seconds to tell the good people of Burbank what’s happening with the weather and even when she does get the chance, does it pretty badly.

With three episodes available already and another 5 in the can, I’m looking forward to seeing how the on-air relationships gel or in this case dissolve. The secret to good comedy, is having characters you can believe in and actors who can portray them to their fullest. Goodnight Burbank succeeds on both counts. If you need a further fix, you can always read Gordon’s and Trisha’s blog.

The only one thing bad I really have to say about the vidcast, is it’s way too short. I watched all three last night and it seems like it took all of 2 minutes. Always the sign of a well written show, but I’m a greedy git and I want more… lots more.

I have to admit, I thought I recognised Hayden Black, the writer and actor behind Gordon. He looks very similar to Phil Jupiter, a popular British comedian, but it’s not him.

Conclusion : A great show, that would no doubt have a cult following on TV. In any case it deserves to spread like wild fire across the internet.

• Tagline : Two Geeks and Their Laptops talk Dugg News.
• Website : Diggnation
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• Parental Rating : 15
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

For anyone who remembers the old TechTV cable channel and indeed the ScreenSavers technology show, Kevin Rose will be a familiar face. Indeed for anyone who watched the tail end of the ScreenSavers, Alex Albrecht will also be somewhat familiar. After having lost many of the original ScreenSavers faces after relocating from San Francisco to LA, Alex came in and was at first not a popular fellow. However it wasn’t too long before he won the audience over, only to find, he himself was no longer required, which was a real shame, as the chemistry between Kevin and Alex was undeniable.

Fast forward and we now find them back together again, this time as the hosts of the Diggnation vidcast. Diggnation is the weekly news show, that uses the stories from the technology news site Digg as the basis for each show. In fact Digg is yet another spoke to the Kevin Rose empire, which also includes Revision 3, the IP TV company producing Diggnation, Infected and a whole host of other internet TV programmes more popularly called vidcasts.

The format to the show is very low key, just our two hosts, their laptops and a couple of beers, chewing the weeks fat, or in this case Dugg news stories. For anyone expecting in your face, hard core news, you ain’t gonna get it here. That’s the joy of using Digg as the basis for the show, the diverse range of subject matter, be it technology, science of just the downright unusual.

The chemistry between Kevin and Alex is great, often ending up with one or both of them laughing and straying way off topic, but it works and works well.

Conclusion : If you love technology and a good laugh this is a vidcast not to miss.