Backing Up Digital Media

Like most folks I’ve talked to, my digital media backup situation is less than ideal. I’ve got pictures, video, and music scattered all over the place — across operating systems, CD, DVD, internal hard drives, external hard drives, etc. (At least I got the Zip disks out of the mix a couple years ago.) Most … Read more

Verizon FiOS Answers

We’ve got FiOS questions, and the Verizon Policy Blog‘s got answers. A few weeks ago ZNF was given to opportunity to participate in quizzing Brian Whitton, Executive Director of Access Network Design and Integration for Verizon. So Mari, Davis, and I plus a few readers submitted questions. My question: The Verizon FiOS TV franchise was … Read more

Joost Prepares To Launch

Joost is preparing to launch from beta in a few days, having just added 32 advertisers and additional networks. For the moment, Joost is still invite only… However, as of today, current users have at least 999 invitations to distribute. So the first ten people who leave a comment will get an invite from me … Read more

More on Mochila

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Earlier in the month I sat down with Mochila CEO Keith McAllister and got the 1-hour version of what it is Mochila does. As best as I can sum it up, the company offers a-la-carte, multiplatform syndication. Together those words make it sound thoroughly uninteresting, but actually Mochila brings an intriguing approach to the new media market… at least once you get your brain wrapped around the concept.

Here’s how it works. Anyone can become a buyer or seller of content by joining Mochila’s network. (Sellers are vetted to make sure they’re selling legit material and no naughty stuff.) If you’re buying, you can choose text, photos, audio or video, and either pay money to redistribute the content – online or offline – or syndicate it with advertising. If you’re selling, you can make your content available on whatever terms you like. Mochila has a handy licensing system that lets you customize everything from price to embargo times to the specific publishers you’re willing to do business with.

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More on Vudu VOD

The NY Times follows up Gizmodo’s scoop today with an effusive article how Vudu will “turn America’s televisions into limitless multiplexes, providing instant gratification for movie buffs”… without mentioning the ITVN, Akimbo, Moviebeam wasteland of products that preceded Vudu. Why would consumers pay $300 – $350 for a box that does one thing: charges for … Read more

Analog TVs To Get Warning Labels

While all newly produced televisions require a digital tuner (as of 3/1/07), manufacturers and retailers have been permitted to work through existing inventory. However, in a move to designed to “facilitate the transmission of digital broadcast” the FCC just mandated (PDF) that NTSC-only sets must display a “Consumer Alert” sticker: This television receiver has only … Read more

The Vudu That You Do

Gizmodo’s got the scoop on Vudu, an upcoming video-on-demand box. Supposedly the device will launch in June at a higher price point than Apple TV with 7 studios signed as content partners. With the proliferation of cable and satellite VOD/PPV plus Xbox 360 and TiVo now offering movie rentals (and purchases), I just can’t see … Read more

Pandora and Internet Radio Saved?

PC World reports that two Congressmen have submitted a bill called the Internet Radio Equality Act that could save Internet radio broadcasters, including Pandora, from going out of business. The bill is the follow-up to a petition started by the SaveNetRadio group. Pandora’s founder: Following our outreach to Pandora listeners, every congressional office was flooded … Read more