watching documentaries
The various venues where you can find and watch documentary films include local theaters, museums and universities, annual festivals and at home on TV and DVD. What is the best choice for you?

URC Digital R50 remote skips PCs, steers iPods
Universal Remote Control on Wednesday introduced its Digital R50 universal remote that, unlike similar products from competitors, does not require an Internet-connected PC to set it up for use with home theater systems. Sporting a two-inch color LCD screen and soft, backlit buttons, the Digital R50 can control the functions of 18 home theater system components by copying the codes of their associa…

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HowStuffWorks Electronics gives you explanations, reviews, opinions, and prices for popular electronics, iPods, home theaters, and other gadgets.

Casio XJ-SC215 Super Slim Projector

Casio XJ SC215 Super Slim Projector This ultra thin DLP projector produces a bright and colorful image along with plenty of bells and whistles. 1499 90274002 Casio

NASCAR Helmet with Radio and CD Player
Dedicated fans of NASCAR racing can now spice up their home or office with this AM/FM radio and CD player helmet, designed like the one Tony Stewart is wearing when driving his #20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Tune in to your favorite radio station or load a CD and let this helmet radio’s […]

AMD Reports Second Quarter Results
AMD (NYSE:AMD) today reported second quarter 2008 revenue from continuing operations of $1.349 billion, a seven percent decrease compared to the first quarter of 2008 and a three percent increase compared to the second quarter of 2007. As part of its previously communicated review of its non-core businesses, AMD decided to divest its Handheld and DTV product businesses, and therefore is classifying them as discontinued operations¹ for financial reporting.

Spoilage game turns iPhone into culture war
IGG Software on Thursday unveiled Spoilage, its first handheld game product for the iPhone, offering users a strategic but casual game play experience. Spoilage supposedly features chess-like strategy, but with checkers-like movement, where the player aims to grow and multiply their bacteria colony to gain control over resources, and eventually the game screen. Game play is initially simple, with …

Want an alternative to TiVo? Watch for the DTVPal DVR coming next month
Section: Video, Accessories, DVD Players/DVRs, HDTV, Video Providers, Gadgets / Other, Household, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous After a bit of a delay, Dish Network has confirmed that they will be releasing the DTVPal DVR mid-December.  However, you can pre-order it starting next week.  Originally introduced as the EchoStar TR-50 when it was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show […]

Samsung P2

Samsung P2 Featuring a crisp touchscreen, stereo Bluetooth, and excellent sound, this portable media player is a serious 249 58913446 Reivew of the Samsung P2 Featuring a

Jabra BT8010 First-Ever Convertible Bluetooth Stereo Headset
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Jabra BT8010 Bluetooth Stereo Headset

Jabra BT8010 Bluetooth Stereo Headset A good companion for music phones, the Jabra BT8010 rocks an innovative convertible design for use as a wireless headset or stereo headphones. 149

Lexis Rapo, Disney-ABC: Never Say Never

By Ravit Lichtenberg (blog)

GigaOm’s NewTeeVee Live 08 opened with Alexis Rapo, VP, Digital Media, ABC, Disney-ABC Television Group.

ABC has been streaming full episodes online at abc.com for the past two years–90% of traffic comes from abc.com despite third party links and Hulu. ABC has also experimented with shorts: Ugly Betty 2-3 minute shorts had 8.5 million views. The intent is to build a fan base around the shows. By developing existing shows online, ABC avoids having to launch from scratch. They are able to capitalize on existing loyally to characters and story lines and, by extension, offer extremely targeted ads that appeal to customers and result in premium ROI to advertisers.

Rapo says people watch 20% of shows—especially ones you need to watch every single week to stay on top of the plot. Which means, consumers still use online streaming as catch-up media. Most people, says Rapo, still watch TV as their prime TV show viewing channel. The shift to online hasn’t happened yet, Rapo warns, but we all have to be prepared and carefully plan our ad models so that we’re not trading premium business for sub premium business.

Next steps for Disney-ABC Television group include continued iteration around long player, creating ways for developers to engage more with the format such as making it easy to index content and view on third party sites, continuing to build the (user) experience, focusing on various ad models, and continuing to develop a deeper understanding of how monetization works.

And what about strictly online shows? Not right now, says Rapo, we’re still in early stages. But I would never say never.

Add a comment | From: Lexis Rapo, Disney-ABC: Never Say Never | Visit Ubergizmo | Good deals

Verizon launches V Cast Mobile TV in 20 markets

Verizon Wireless today officially launched its V Cast Mobile TV service in 20 select U.S. markets. The service, which operates in conjunction with technology partner MediaFLO USA, will primarily roll out in western markets including Denver and Albuquerque in addition to a handful of Midwest markets such as Dallas and Kansas City. At launch, V Cast Mobile TV will feature eight channels including CBS, NBC, ESPN, Comedy Central and MTV; each channel will broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with programming that embraces simulcast, time-shifted and archival content. Pricing for V Cast Mobile TV is $15 per month, or $25 per month for unlimited Mobile TV, pre-existing V Cast services and mobile web access.  The serivce will launch using the Samsung SCH-u620 device but more devices will be added.

The pricing for the service seems a bit steep, although Ken Hyers, analyst with Technology Business Research, says he expects that the price will decline as Verizon rolls out more markets. “The goal is to get the early adopters first and this pricing is not a problem for the early adopters.”  Nevertheless, the price will have to decline to appeal to the mass market.  

Another issue is how Verizon will clearly differentiate VCAST Mobile TV from its VCAST streaming service. The similarity of the names may be confusing to consumers. But Hyers says that the company has several months to experiment with the marketing and pricing before AT&T (formerly Cingular Wireless) enters the market with its comparable broadcast TV service. 

For more on the V Cast Mobile TV launch:
- read this Wireless Week article

Related article:
- Verizon unveils V Cast Mobile TV  

Office Depot: SAMSUNG 2253BW Black 22in 2ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor $250 shipped AR

Nokia N810 Internet Tablet

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