Forbes.com – Boo Hiss

December 29, 2006 By

I was following a link on Google News to an article on Forbes.com about Microsoft and RSS. On the page was a video player that started playing video with sound right after the page loaded. I have always hated these self starting videos, especially ones with sound. I don’t need that going through my office when I’m just trying to read an article. To make matters worse, this video box had NO stop button. I couldn’t shut it off. Best I could do was lower the volume. There was so much advertising and junk on the screen anyway, it was almost impossible to find the article. That’s the last time I ever go to Forbes.com.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Social Networking for Podcasting – The New digg.com

December 28, 2006 By

I really like what digg.com has done with their new podcasting support. This is social networking for podcasting done right. Podshow, Blubrry and everyone else pales in comparison. Just look at the difference in site design and usability. Not even close. Podshow looks like too many cooks in the kitchen. Blubrry looks like not enough cooks in the kitchen. Digg has always had that perfect balance between functionality and usability.

Filed Under: Podcast, Social Networks, Web 2.0

Skype Dudes at it again

December 28, 2006 By

First it was Kazza, than Skype. For their next trick, Internet TV! These guys have a knack for knowing what to do next and they always do it well. I’m excited because I love the prospect of tv delivered via the Internet. I don’t know how these guys are going to pull it off with iTunes and all the networks wanting to do their own thing, but I wish them best of luck.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Connected World Podcast #12

December 4, 2006 By

I forgot to mention the Blackberry in the last podcast, so I talk about it here. Also, a review of my new cell phone, the Palm 680.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Filed Under: Mobile Computing

Cingular Video Download Service

December 1, 2006 By

Cingular already has Cingular Video, a streaming video service you can get for an additional $5 a month, but rumors now say Cingular may be planning on a video download program. I would have no interest in such a thing. I am still not convinced of video on cell phones. For very short clips I could see but certainly not anything like a tv show or movie. Cingular Video already offers short clips, so I don’t see what a download service would do for me. It’s a perfect example of a solution looking for a market.

Filed Under: Mobile Computing, Technology

The Connected World Podcast #11

November 30, 2006 By

Today’s show is all about cell phones. I have recently been in the market for a new cell phone and I want a smart phone. I look at Windows Mobile, Palm and Symbian. Which one will I go with?

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Filed Under: Mobile Computing, Technology

Warner Download and Burn Movies in 07

November 28, 2006 By

Finally some good news after all the bitching I have been doing. Time Warner is readying a new service that will allow customers to download and burn to DVD first run movies the same day the DVD comes out in stores. Hopefully this will be the full DVD resolution and with all the extras. This is great and I would totally use this service, especially if the price is a few bucks less. One other question is, how many burns do you get? I bet on one.

Filed Under: Technology

More Tivo Badness

November 28, 2006 By

I hate to bash on Tivo again, but they keep doing annoying things. The latest ploy is to insert ads at the end of recorded programs. A still screen will also provide an option to watch the video component. Raising rates, inserting ads, and what do we the consumer get for it? Not much by my estimation. The basic features of the Series 2 Tivo hasn’t changed much. A desperate move by a desperate company.

Filed Under: Technology

XM + Sirius – I’m Down

November 27, 2006 By

Competition is usually a good thing, especially for consumers, but both these companies are pretty much the same anyway. I have XM now and I love it, but what the hell, give me the best of both worlds. I do think XM is a way better name, so hopefully they keep that one.

Filed Under: Mobile Computing

Palm Moving Slowly

November 27, 2006 By

Another one of my favorite companies is stumbling again. First is was Tivo and their raising of prices, and now Palm takes a hit for not being able to ship the latest Treo 750 for the US market on time. They also had a mess up that delayed the Treo 680 by a full week, missing “Black Friday” after Thanksgiving rush. Many other phone vendors, like HTC, crank out phones at an alarming rate. I don’t know why Palm is so slow. If Windows Mobile were just better, I’d say forget it and just get one of those.

Companies like Palm and Tivo, they succeed despite themselves. Where is the Linux-based Palm that has taken over two years to develop? Can it be that hard?

Filed Under: Mobile Computing
« Older Posts