video

YouTube one-ups MySpace, launches political 'Spotlight' service

YouTube has announced a new series on content for political candidates, called Spotlight. Candidates will be able to ask the YouTube community a question and monitor comments and video responses sent in from users. They'll then get a chance to respond to the group discussion later in the week. The goal is to provide an open forum for users to know candidates a little better, and for people to ask questions directly--an option that's historically been out of reach (outside members of the press or those involved in campaign events). The project is also taking advantage of a … Read more

Progressive Download is here! But what is it?

One of the most requested features since the launch of CNET TV has been progressive download. We've received countless e-mails asking for "the ability to pause and let the video load like you can on YouTube" and to "fix your bandwidth problem, so I can watch using dial-up." Although virtually none of the users requesting progressive download knew what to call it, they all knew how to describe it. Progressive download sends the video file to your computer as rapidly as you can receive it, whereas streaming sends the video to your computer as it … Read more

Crave TV: Space Bubble Episode 2

Hey, Bubblenauts! It's the second episode of Crave UK's new gadget show, set aboard a little Bubble Ship, floating in space. This week we investigate the gluttonous power consumption of modern gadgets, and prove that "digital" doesn't necessarily mean "more advanced."

We also take a look at a laptop made entirely of bamboo, and kick one particuarly obnoxious mobile phone out of the airlock, where it explodes into a billion shards of ill-concieved plastic resin.

Climb aboard the Space Bubble, a geostationary satellite high above the surface of Earth, crewed by a solitary … Read more

DIY video synthesizer looks and sounds like your busted Atari

Make magazine--purveyor of awesome and amusing DIY projects and kits--has added a new product to its online store -- the Cellular Automata video synthesizer kit. It may look like a hippie guitar pedal, but actually it creates endearingly retro (but mostly annoying) audio and video akin to an Atari 2600 meltdown. The kit offers RCA audio and video outputs, costs $50, and is mostly preassembled. You will have to find your own enclosure (the rainbow-colored wooden box is only a suggestion) and solder on the knobs and a reset button.

The video synthesizer works off a mathematical idea called … Read more

What's next for CNET TV?

Hi I'm Justin Eckhouse, Product Manager for CNET TV. I've managed all sorts of products over the years, but CNET TV is the most exciting project I've worked on in quiet some time (hopefully for you too). I'll be using my posts here to give you a look at what's next for CNET TV as well as insight into why we've made the design & development decisions we have. So let's get started.... CNET TV was built to be an immersive multimedia experience featuring one stop shopping for all the audio & video … Read more

The CNET TV blog goes live!

We did some user testing on CNET TV a while back and we brought in this 19 year old kid who was kicking around the country taking a year off before he went to school. He came in, got comfortable and we asked him to look at a new potential interface. "Cool." He says. He played with it for a while and we asked him if he would come back. He says, "Yeah, I would...I don't really like to read." I loved this guy. CNET TV is definitely for him, this blog -- maybe … Read more

SI.com to launch 'deep-tagged' video feature for NFL draft

Football-loving couch potatoes rejoice: here's a new way for you to get your NFL fix on during the tragically long off-season. SI.com, the online arm of Sports Illustrated, will be launching a new video portal, NFL Draft FilmRoom, so that you'll have access to video highlights of each of the college football players who have been selected to the NFL's 2007 draft. (If you're not a football fan, FYI, this is a huge deal.)

The picks for the '07 NFL Draft will be announced on April 28 and 29 in NYC.

The power behind this … Read more

ABC.com makes watching TV at work better

Among the networks, ABC.com has been one of the most aggressive in terms of streaming full versions of its shows online after they've aired on TV. During those quieter moments at work--some call them smoking breaks without the smoking--you can watch episodes of Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, and more, right on your computer screen. Until a few days ago, however, the picture was rather small. Now ABC.com has launched a new full-screen "HD-quality" video player, and the "broadcast" looks shockingly good.

Meanwhile, NBC also has spruced up its online video player, … Read more

Joost commercial isn't quite ready for the Super Bowl

Most well-funded Web 2.0 start-ups spend their extra capital on logo T-shirts, Frisbees, or beer mugs. But if you're the ever-classy Joost, the hush-hush online video start-up, you make a commercial to explain your product. I'm not sure whether this will actually be shown on televisions in one country or another, or if it'll stay on the Web. Ironically, it's being distributed via YouTube, which is certainly going to be one of its foremost rivals.

I think the commercial is a little dull. It could use some Diet Coke and Mentos.

(Adverblog via PSFK)

Take me out to the iTunes Store

Well, the NCAA tournament is winding to a close, which means that it must be just about time for baseball season. And because Steve Jobs is eager to take over your whole life, including your sports-watching experiences, you're going to be able to get your MLB fix at the iTunes Store this season. Apple will be selling 25-minute daily recaps of the season for $1.99 (or $7.99 for a month's worth) and two featured full-length games each week, also for $1.99 (or $19.99 for a "season pass"). A selection of "classic&… Read more