A Promising Start for Hulu
I had my doubts about Hulu went I first tried the beta many months back, but it’s improved substantially in its public release. The bottom line is this: NBC and News Corp. have put together a pretty darn good mix of content that is not only free, but is devoid of intrusive advertising.
Ads aren’t completely absent, mind you, but they’re implemented in a — dare I say — tasteful manner. For instance, in order to watch a movie, you have the option of watching it commercial-free in exchange for viewing a full-length trailer for an upcoming theatrical release. Or you can start it immediately, but are subject to intermittent commercials.
(I would imagine most people will choose the one-and-done trailer, not only because it’s a less invasive trade-off, but a lot of people genuinely like movie trailers.)
Now, of course, getting this on the big-screen in living rooms is the next step. I’ve watched several shows on my Mac mini that’s connected to a 40″ Sony Bravia, and while I wouldn’t purchase something of this quality, the video is watchable and completely tolerable considering the price-tag.
As you’d expect, their 720p HD clips are much better, though the selection is filled largely with movie trailers.
Considering how bad NBC looked when it publicly wrangled with Apple and pulled its content off iTunes, the company should be commended for a quality effort out of the gate. I’m sure many others will agree.
Does Method Do Anything Wrong?
Method is bringing its great package design and environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning products to the tub and toilet, a segment of the market that has always produced some of the most noxious products. Both the Le Scrub and Lil’ Bowl Blu will be arriving in stores this month.
Stuff White People Like
This ongoing list is hilarious and strangely accurate. Example: #90 Dinner Parties.
Beijing Air Quality: A Harm to Athletes?
How is it possible this is not a bigger story? The Chinese government said they’ll be spending $17 billion on clean air improvements in hopes of getting Beijing’s abysmal conditions in order by the start of the Summer Olympics in August. $17 billion? The quality is so bad that the record-holder in the marathon refuses to participate in the games.
Interestingly enough, a report from the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission on the conditions is being spun two totally separate ways by environmentalists and the Chinese press. Stories on the subject include some intriguing photography.
Environment News Service: IOC - Beijing Air Quality Could Put Athletes at Risk
China Daily: IOC - Beijing air quality not to harm athletes
I wonder which shots are more accurate.
Digg’s Kevin Rose: 3G iPhone to Have Video Chat
If Digg’s Kevin Rose is right, the 3G iPhone, which we all know is coming sooner-than-later, will feature video chat capabilities in addition to faster network speeds. That’s great and all, but I’m more interested in being able to use Simplify Media’s iPhone app outside of a Wi-Fi network. It’s beautiful over Wi-Fi and it would be a killer app for 3G.
Arkansas’ Steven Hill: Best Tourney Look
Too bad Arkansas’ loss to North Carolina yesterday means we won’t be seeing more of this.
Helio Sequence: Keep Your Eyes Ahead
The last we heard from Oregon-based Helio Sequence was 2004’s Long and Distance, an effort loaded with beeps and bops that was somewhat lost in the sample-crazed, Postal Service-fueled phase that resulted in many overlooked albums. To me, it was a solid release that not only played well in the studio, but carried through in the group’s live set. This was made all the more impressive considering their encompassing sound was produced by just two guys.
What took them so long to record this year’s follow-up, Keep Your Eyes Ahead? While touring in support of the last record, Brandon Summers shredded his vocal chords and was forced to spend time learning how to sing again. Fortunately for the group, the break paid off, and despite this album being a big departure for them, it largely works.
Gone are the samples (though they occasionally do appear almost in a nod to the past), and in their place are a full-range of shimmering guitars and layered keyboards, all drenched in a heavy dose of reverb. The result is a mix of shoe-gazer pop and downbeat folk that recalls several of my Britpop favs, including Badly Drawn Boy and South. All-in-all, a worthy effort.
Listen: Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Hard-Hitting Journalism From CNET
I wouldn’t think hip-hop mag XXL would be the most quotable source for technology news, but CNET apparently does. A front page story on News.com this afternoon reads: “Rapper DMX blows off ringtones, online music biz.” Author Anne Broache pulls this powerful exchange from the interview:
DMX: I don’t even think about it. I don’t even think about it.
XXL: The music business is pretty much going in that direction.
DMX: I don’t know. That’s just…that’s probably not…People want the actual CDs not no s— that’s disposable.
Does it really matter what DMX thinks anything? For crying out loud, he doesn’t even know who Barrack Obama is.
Bush Approval Rating: How Low Can It Go?
Dubbya’s approval rating is now down to 31 percent, 40 points lower than when the war started. With the economy going down the pisser and his term coming to an end, why not just go ahead and try for single-digits!
(For comparisons sake, the highest end-of-presidency rating of any President who came into office after World War II was Clinton, who had a 65 percent rating.)
Apple to Offer Unlimited Music?
Supposedly Apple is in talks with the music labels to offer unlimited access to their catalogs on some sort of super premium iPod and iPhone. While Apple has taken the “customers want to own their music” stance for years, I still think they’re the only ones who could make something like this more mainstream than Real Networks has done with Rhapsody, and actually make it a compelling product for users.
Plus, keep in mind, as the market becomes saturated, iPod sales have been and will continue to level off and eventually fall in time. The company needs additional products and revenue-driving services to up-sell into their existing customer base.
What this would look like and how it would function, who knows. If it does happen, look for Wi-Fi to be utilized in some fashion, however. Peter Oppenheimer even alluded to this ever so slightly in January during Apple’s quarterly financial call:
Peter Oppenheimer, January 2008
To me, this says that new services are undoubtedly coming, and the AppStore won’t be the only one. Could a music store with unlimited access be the next?
Jack Spade: Nylon Canvas Field Bag
For years, I carried around a Manhattan Portage bag as my primary holster for all work-related things: laptop, cables, camera, chargers, etc. as well as the general assortment of old receipts, half-eaten packs of gum and the occasional pack of smokes. While it was a great looking bag, it didn’t really offer much in the way of sturdiness, so anything not made of plastic or metal would come out looking like it went through the washer.
It was time for a replacement so I began dropping hints to friends around the holidays. Fortunately I landed a Jack Spade Nylon Canvas Field Bag, pictured below in black. The bag retails for a pretty penny ($150) but is well-suited for someone on the go who demands a bag that can hold up over time. While it is a bit of a hair and fuzz magnet (I wouldn’t recommend it to cat owners), it could probably be torched and still hold its shape.
Thoughtful touches are everywhere on the bag; my favorite is the iPod pocket with a buttonhole loop to thread your headphones through. This prevents you from getting tangled up in your cord when taking the back off your shoulder. Other pockets take care of magazines, cell phones, cables, documents, you name it.
For Mac fans especially, if you’re looking for the perfect 15-inch MacBook Pro companion, this would be it. The company is now even selling a bag & sleeve combo it designed exclusively for Apple. Highly recommended.
Socialthing! - Get Your Digital Life Together
Socialthing.com displays updates from your favorite social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.) in an attractive and streamlined interface. The site, which launched in beta last week, is supposedly invite-only at this time, but I signed up for the private beta and got sent a code within a few hours. Support for other services, such as Digg, Last.fm, del.icio.us and YouTube, is in the works.
Charlie Rose Sacrifices Face for MacBook Air
Would you rather ding up your recently purchased MacBook Air or your face? PBS’ Charlie Rose chose the later. The always professional PBS talk show host was sporting a black eye and bandaged forehead after tripping and choosing to protect his MacBook instead of his mug. Love that he still recorded his show despite looking like Rocky.
Airborne: Full of Hot Air
You know how everyone and their mother swears by Airborne to battle colds and the onslaught of travel-related germs? Well, it doesn’t do anything special and is instead a deceptively marketed, run-of-the-mill vitamin. This according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit group who successfully sued Airborne Health earlier this month for $23.3 million for false advertising.
For its part, Airborne admitted no wrongdoing or any illegal conduct. Something tells me the settlement total is all they need to admit to. Me, I’ll continue to use Emergen-C, a product that doesn’t pretend to be anything but a crap-load of vitamin C. (Free tip of the day: Emergen-C is great for hangovers.)
NPD: Macs Account for 14-Percent of February Retail Sales
Apple has been outpacing the industry’s average growth for a number of quarters now and, not surprisingly, it’s resulting in a larger piece of the market. According to NPD, Macs accounted for 14-percent of US retail sales in February.