links for 2009-11-24
•November 25, 2009 • Leave a Commentlinks for 2009-11-19
•November 20, 2009 • Leave a Commentlinks for 2009-11-17
•November 18, 2009 • Leave a Commentlinks for 2009-11-10
•November 11, 2009 • Leave a Commentlinks for 2009-11-04
•November 5, 2009 • Leave a CommentForget Prime-Time, I’ll Watch When I Want
•November 4, 2009 • Leave a CommentI have to admit, I am a sucker for a good TV show.
Some years can prove sparse when it comes to finding quality TV programming. Ever since the rise of reality television (of which I refuse to watch…ok maybe American Idol but that’s it), networks have not, until recently, been putting their money into producing well-written television shows.
Fortunately, I have noticed a change in the tides of late. Where a network would have pulled a television drama off the air a few years ago, shows are being given extended life these days…and it we really have the web to thank.
If you peruse the web, you’ll find that nearly every prime-time television show can be viewed online either for free (check out ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW, or just watch them all on Hulu) or purchased for under $3 on iTunes. Programs are being made available the day after their original television air date, and the quality of online streaming video has hit a point in which resolution is no longer an issue – the picture on my computer monitor is comparable to that of my television.
Networks that have adopted this new fad of program viewing are allowing for “time shifting,” a phenomenon in which viewers can choose to watch their favorite programs at a time they choose rather than having to be home by 8pm to catch the latest episode of Lost. Additionally, the viewer metrics and ratings from online viewership can be measured much easier and much more in depth than that of television viewership, which relies on surveys and Nielsen ratings.
If anything, being able to watch television over the web gives me a feeling of power over what shows are worthy continued production. If there is a show I enjoy thoroughly, I make a point to watch the show online so that my viewership can be traced and the networks know that I am “tuning in.” In the television broadcast model, there is no guarantee that my viewership is being counted.
I like viewing television programs online because I feel like I am in control. Less commercials, more choices, and the networks know what shows I think are worthy of my viewership. If things keep going the way they are, I’ll happily drop my cable service and not think twice about it.
Sorenson – Giving the Competition a Squeeze
•November 3, 2009 • 1 CommentIf you are a video nut like me and have done any type of video post-production from your home Mac or PC, then you probably know how useful and powerful a tool Sorenson Squeeze can be. For anyone out there not familiar, Squeeze is one of the best one-stop-shop encoding programs available for digital video. Not only is Squeeze compatible with a variety of different codecs, but I have found it to work as seamlessly on a PC as it does a Mac, a function that not many other programs can claim.
You can understand my elation, then, when I heard that Sorenson was releasing Squeeze 6, the latest and greatest in streamlined video encoding.
Here she is! Don't you love a tearing open a new software package?
Here are some of the amazing perks:
- Email and text message notification. Squeeze 6 can be programmed to notify clients, colleagues, friends – basically anyone you want – when a video has finished encoding.
- Review and approval workflow. Squeeze 6 will automatically send clients password-protected video files for review and approval.
- Publishing and syndication. When finished encoding, Squeeze 6 can automatically publish your video content to a variety of online destinations, including YouTube, Twitter, private FTP locations, and more.
In addition to all these amazing perks, the seamless workflow with Avid, Final Cut Pro, and iMovie make encoding a snap.
Ready, set... encode!
So, I know what you’re thinking. A few new perks, some fancy packaging, a sleeker user interface… is this really any better than the last version? How is this going to help me in the long run? What is my ROI?!
Well, if you’ve been paying attention, it’s simple really. If you set it up right, Squeeze 6 can literally cut out the middle man (that’s you) when it comes to the encoding process. Theoretically, once you have your system settings all in the right order, you can output a finished video file from your desired editing software and send it to a pre-determined folder. Squeeze 6 sees the file enter this folder and immediately begins encoding it for YouTube, Vimeo, Quicktime, and DVD authoring. When it is finished, it outputs the finished files in a predetermined folder, tweets it to your supervisor or client for review, and sends you a text message letting you know all of this has been done while you were on your lunch break.
Who’s laughing at Squeeze 6 now?
links for 2009-11-02
•November 3, 2009 • Leave a Comment-
Neat MP3 player flash component. Seems very customizable.
Comic Books on My iPhone? So Much for Productivity.
•October 30, 2009 • Leave a Comment
Marvel Comics, one of the largest comic producer in the world, has recently partnered with PanelFly to produce a revolutionary iPhone application. The application allows users to access comics on their mobile device, bridging the gap between the old-school print elitists and the technological early adopters.
Costing users $.99 per comic, the application currently offers the original Spider-Man series, X-Men, X23, Age Apocalypse, and Iron Man, all starting from the very first issue. This is big news for many comic lovers, as these issues are rare to come by, and the opportunity to read any of these classic storylines from the very beginning is something that will prove desirable to many comic lovers.
Of course, the big question is whether or not an iPhone application is the best medium for these comics to be made available. The iPhone screen is great for quick emails, text messages, games, and
other such activities, but many would argue that it was never meant for full page reading.
Would you read a full book on your tiny iPhone screen? A newspaper? A comic book?
I speak for my fellow comic loving brethren when I say, “Hell yes, I would!” But I could see how some skeptics would criticize the readability of comics on a handheld device. In this situation, I would encourage you to be your own judge.
So, what do you think? A worthy iPhone app? A failed attempt at merging print media and digital technologies? It will be interesting to see how well this app does over the coming months, but I would expect that when Apple finally releases its upcoming tablet device, this application may find a better home on a larger screen.
