Dave Zatz

Do you listen to podcasts?

Over on my LinkedIn network, an interesting question was posed: How often do you listen to podcasts? The author limited his query to non-work-related and non-NPR content. Here’s my response:

I rarely listen to podcasts. So interesting followup questions might be: Where/when/how do people listen? I find I can’t concentrate on a podcast while working on my computer and I don’t listen through my iPod or TV when relaxing.

Generally speaking, I’m more visually oriented and prefer reading or watching video over a purely audio broadcast. If I still regularly commuted (via subway), I might listen to podcasts more frequently. Though I’d just as likely watch some DVRed video clip on my mobile instead.

Joost Seeking Hardware Partners?

Word on the street is that Joost is on the lookout for hardware partners. Because we just don’t have enough media extenders. ;) Of course, Joost does has several things going for them – tons of buzz, funding, and content partners. Although Joost’s unique interface may not translate so well to a couch-based experience. And … Read more

Democracy Video Overview

No, not democracy the concept. Democracy the open-source video aggregator and player. While I do actually like the original name, the developers will be rebranding their next iteration as Miro. Anyhow, CNET has posted a 2 minute video overview worth checking out. (Quicker and cleaner than an install.)

YouTube Gets Mobile

Without any fanfare, Google quietly launched YouTube Mobile. The web page is slimmed down for your portable, and video selections are streamed 3GP. Interesting to see YouTube move beyond Flash as their sole video format. (H.264 coming to AppleTV.)

So far, I haven’t had very good luck with the mobile offering… On a Treo 700p, clicking a YouTube vid brought up a blank web page. On a 700w, Windows Media Player launched with an error. Brian Lam over on Gizmodo had better luck on a 755 and Helio Ocean (above).

Blu-ray Strikes Back (With Blockbuster)

Perhaps Blu-ray isn’t having such a bad week after all… Blockbuster has decided to exclusively stock Blu-ray in the majority of their brick & mortar stores. (HD DVD is available for rental online and at select stores.) Blockbuster made the decision based on Blu-ray accounting for 70% of next-gen DVD rentals in a 250 store … Read more

Blu-ray is Rottin’

Seems like those in the HD DVD camp are having a good month. First, Sony has started collecting contact info from folks displeased with the quality of (the now discontinued) The Fifth Element on Blu-ray. When the title is remastered next month, Sony will broker a trade. Next, over the last few weeks a couple … Read more

BitTorrent Good For TV?

Though the studios just enlisted AT&T to go after their file-sharing customers and Azureus is being sued in France, I wonder if BitTorrent has some legitimate value for the content owners/creators. (Sure, BT can be used to share non-copyrighted media – but let’s be serious.)

Here’s the situation: My buddy Jason told me to check out Traveler, so I set up a Season Pass on TiVo. Only problem was, the third episode was airing and TiVo didn’t find any repeats of the earlier shows. Now what? I visit ABC.com and discover they have the first and third episode available for web streaming, but they’re missing the second (and now the fourth). Considering Traveler is a serial, I can’t miss any episodes. So off I go to pay the iTunes tax of $2/show only to discover they don’t offer it. Xbox 360 Video Marketplace? Microsoft doesn’t have a deal with ABC. All I (and ABC) am left with is BitTorrent – I downloaded the still-buggy FoxTorrent and headed off to The Pirate Bay. And guess what… BitTorrent helped make me into a live ABC television viewer. Not to mention I’m now pitching their show to others. Will it be enough to save Traveler?

In order, here’s how I watched the first four episodes:

ABC.com – The interface can be a bit tedious at times, but hey it’s free and works on Macs.
Xbox Media Center (XBMC) – The Xvid download looked nice on my HDTV.
TiVo Series3 – Timeshifted HD.
ABC – The series is so good, I’ll watch it live going forward.

Archos Preps TV Plus Media Extender

Two media extender announcements in one week! Can it get any better than that? ;) Archos joins DivX in by releasing details on TV Plus. Engadget had some hands on time with the prototype and reports Archos will offer DVR functionality including an IR blaster to control that cable box, in addition to typical media … Read more