TriviaToy is a new trivia ecosystem for Android. New features, questions and categories are being added constantly. The goal is to have a great user interface, fun user generated content, and social features. Maybe learn something in the process!
The debate over music piracy has raged on. The metaphor we've been told to believe is that it's theft. That musicians, producers, songwriters and middle men are having their bank accounts drained by online hackers who steal torrential amounts of their data. Maybe that's all true? Take a look at this infographic/illustration and discuss.
Click to enlarge. Illustration by Brian E. Young.
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The problem is that most people don't even know what a podcast is. It has something to do with the iPod right?. In fact, it is not just for iPod users. It's just the internet's most versatile form of free radio or tv that can be delivered in whatever way you the user chooses. That's the power of podcasts, they are made to be delivered to the user in whatever way he or she finds most convenient. They can even be listened to right from your browser! Did I mention that podcasts are absolutely free free free? (echo echo echo)
What is a podcast?
Wikipedia defines a [[podcast]] as "a series of digital-media files, which are distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers. The term podcast, like broadcast, can refer either to the series of content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster."
"Podcasting in Plain English" by The Common Craft Show. This is a great demonstration of podcasts and why you might want to start consuming them.
Just like you subscribe to the newspaper, or set a TIVO to download your favorite shows, you can get podcasts delivered to you or in the case of some services set them up for streaming. They're just common video or audio formats like avi or mp3 but they are wrapped in a "feed". This is like a webpage that delivers text information, but instead it contains broadcast information to get it to the program you listen from. That's the link that often ends with .RSS (but not necessarily) or is commonly associated with this symbol: . Read more about this symbol, check out http://www.feedicons.com.
What kind of content can be found in podcasts?
Podcasts can be professional quality audio and video from brands you know such as NPR, BBC, the Guardian. The power of podcasts, however, is the targeted and niche content. Interested in comic books, science fiction, science? There are podcasts that target your specific interests made by people like you. It's not the same mainstream content as you might find in television or radio. So you can form your own channel of content that just feeds you the things you love and know about.
So how do I listen or watch?
PodcatcherMatrix provides an interface to help you compare various ways of receiving podcasts.
PodNova is a website made just for situations like this. The web-based PodNova player lets you subscribe to podcasts and has a very nice online application for doing this. It has an iTunes feel, but much simpler and no installations necessary.
Google Reader is one way to do it. Just plug the podcast url into the add subscription box and the reader should discover the [[RSS]] feed for you. The advantage of Reader, in my opinion, is the way it displays the notes from the podcast and the player all on one convenient window. It makes it really easy to follow along with shows that have web links. The Google custom homepage also accepts podcast feeds.
Juice is an open source free download to help organize your listening if you'd prefer a dedicated program for podcasts instead of your browser. Doppler is another such program. Even if you don't have an iPod, you can still use Apple iTunes for free.
Looking for podcasts to listen to? Just do a Google search for any topic you might want to know about plus the word podcast and chances are you can get the content you're looking for. Check out the links page. Better yet, listen to my podcast: The SketcheeBook Podcast featuring quick tips for illustrators, designers and other visual arts. If you have a favorite podcast feel free to post it in the comments.
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Radiohead had a great show at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ just across the river from Philadelphia on August 12. This was my second time seeing Radiohead after seeing them at the Nissan Post Pavilion during some pretty rained out conditions. This time the weather was much more cooperative.
Radiohead performing the song "All I Need" from the album [[In Rainbows]] on August 12, 2008
Here's the setlist via MTV News whose correspondent referred to it as "the second-best show I’ve ever attended":
“15 Step� “There There� “Morning Bell� “All I Need� “The National Anthem� “Videotape� “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi� “The Gloaming� “Where I End and You Begin� “Faust Arp� “No Surprises� “Jigsaw Falling Into Place� “The Bends� “Idioteque� “Climbing Up the Walls� “Nude� “Bodysnatchers�
First Encore: “House of Cards� “Lucky� “Go Slowly� “Just, Street Spirit�
Second Encore: “Reckoner� “Planet Telex� “Everything in its Right Place�
A YouTube fan video by krkst28 of Radiohead's Camden, NJ performance. This song being "The Bends".
In a followup to the Nissan Post Pavilion story, I'm happy to report that the I had a much greener experience more inline with the bands ecological message. They encouraged carpooling before the event and every car I saw had 2-4 people in it. Getting in was a bit delayed which seemed to caused by directing people to each spot individually, but leaving we had no problem and zipped right out of the parking lot.
You might also want to check out what some others in the blogosphere:
Radiohead: August 12th 2008 (Camden, NJ) ("Last night’s Radiohead setlist included none of their major radio hits; no High and Dry, no Karma Police, no Paranoid Android, no Creep. But then again, if you’re just a casual radio fan, you have no place at a Radiohead concert.")
YOU BOTH LOOK INCREDIBLY HEALTHY - Radiohead Live, August 9th and 12th ("The National Anthem was great as always. I still can't get over how amazing the light show for that song is. That awesome candy apple red lighting with the red scribbles on the screen that dance and jump around like hairs stuck on the projector lens.")
Radiohead Comes Like A Comet In Camden ("The set list I expected to see was turned completely upside down. Radiohead weaved through a performance that showed no mercy and kept the crowd standing and dancing all night long.")
Radiohead Shares Meaning of Life with Camden Crowd ("And while I was taking a piss, they supposedly shared the meaning of life with the couple thousand fans in attendance.") No idea what he's talking about.
What it means to be Alive ("The set list itself was immaculately constructed and while personal highlights are too numerous to number my most vivid memory was their performance of No Surprises. Ironically enough, a song about ending your life in a carbon monoxide filled garage, by a band that specializes in feelings of alienation and depression, brings about a greater understanding of what it means to be alive.")
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James Houston brings us Big Ideas. It's the Radiohead song, played on old computer equipment. It's great to see people think way outside of the box. The idea of this remix is to illustrate how something can be more than what they were designed for. That's an inspiring sentiment and makes for a nice art piece.
Remember Lisa Loeb? I think everyone does that I've asked and they wonder where she's been. Back when, she had a ton of great songs and the awesome reality show #1 Single. Last night she was at the Recher Theatre right in Towson, Maryland. It was just her and her guitar on stage pretty raw. She's just really funny talking about karaoke, bar hopping, having odd conversations with the small and intimate audience. It was a great time. Her new album is filled with kids and camp songs. So she talked about all of her camp experiences.
Lisa Loeb was at the Recher Theatre in Towson last night
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