Web

A Streaming-Only Netflix Plan in the Works?

I’m a subscriber to Netflix’s one-out-at-a-time, unlimited plan ($8.99/month) to keep costs down, yet still receive a physical DVD every week and have unlimited access to the Netflix online video streaming. Some who use the Roku or Xbox 360 might wonder why there isn’t a streaming-only plan for a little less money. According to an … Read more

Being Efficient With RSS

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As most of us probably know, RSS is set of XML-based protocols intended to make web content a bit more portable. The most common usage is aggregating blog/news content into feed readers. While RSS itself has made me more efficient in consuming information, it hasn’t been enough. And as I ponder a return to time consuming highway commute, I’m looking for ways to get things done (GTD) faster. (Which, ironically, is time consuming.)

A few months back, I migrated away from Google Reader when they refreshed the UI. I’m not quite sure what all the problems are, but the very white/bright look isn’t pleasant. Since then, I’ve been pleased with NewsGator’s free NetNewsWire (OS X) desktop software. Two features in particular are very useful, when used together: full screen mode and the built-in web rendering engine. The typical folders, post flagging, and keyboard shortcuts are present and appreciated. Subscription status is also synced back to m.NewsGator.com for mobile access, although my experience hasn’t been flawless. (There’s also a NetNewsWire iPhone app… which I don’t care for.)

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Wonderwall is No Cooliris

TechMeme is all atwitter this morning over Microsoft’s launch of Wonderwall. The browser-based app shows a wall of celebrity photos with links to short blurbs and more pics. Kara Swisher says it has “an ‘iPhone’ feel combined with a flipping-through-a-magazine tone.” Others have latched on to Microsoft’s foray into celebrity gossip content. Personally, I think it looks like a weak attempt to emulate the Cooliris platform for scanning photos and video. Slick? Wonderwall feels sadly static to me. Innovative? It’s treading content and platform ground that other companies have already walked.

Microsoft’s Wonderwall is lacking little touches like the feel of movement Cooliris gives when your scroll, and the interface is too busy for my taste. There is an aspect of discovery with the app, as you can click on photos that appeal to you and learn more, but Cooliris executes this function much more cleanly. New discovery categories appear on Cooliris all the time. For example, the top of today’s menu has Valentine ideas for him and her and funny ads (a la the Superbowl) available online. The one downside for some people with Cooliris is that you have to download the application. Compared to Wonderwall, a little downloading is well worth the effort.

Bonus video I found on Cooliris today after the jump: a banned Canadian ad for breast exams. :)

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Oscar Screeners & P2P Sharing

Every year Andy Baio does a very cool thing, he tracks how quickly Oscar-nominated films are leaked online to P2P networks. It’s interesting for a number of reasons, but primarily for demonstrating how unreliable the actual Academy members themselves are in keeping Hollywood’s goods off the Internet. The annual results are relatively similar: usually within … Read more

Marketing the Verizon Hub

Prior to delivery, we’ve definitely seen the potential in Verizon’s Internet widget station here at ZNF. But as release approached, with the implementation and contract details revealed, my enthusiasm has waned. In fact, I turned down a hands on briefing at Verizon’s HQ last week. However, that didn’t dissuade another PR flack from rebutting a … Read more

Yup, This TiVo Tweets

While we haven’t yet arrived at Todd’s (cybernetic) activity stream vision, mere days after our post, Darren Cloutier has answered the call: I saw the post about this on Friday night and thought it would make a great weekend project! From my old PC in the basement, a PHP script logs into the web server … Read more

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The big day has arrived. And while many will be watching football, the advertising industry (and their clients) hope we’ll tune in for NBC’s big pay day ($206 million). Although much of the advertising action will be simulcast online… NewTeeVee’s put together a roundup of web destinations to catch Superbowl commercials. And, if 80s action … Read more