Video Shopping Flyer

Here's an exciting new offering from the AreaGuides.com Network:

Thinking of a flip? Check out the Vado HD

Creative readies the Vado HD: Is it better than the Flip Video Mino HD?

Things are heating up in the HD mini camcorder space as Creative gets set to release its new Vado HD next week. The camcorder retains many of the design traits of the original Vado but it doesn't share the exact same body. However, it does have something that neither the Kodak Zi6 nor the Flip Video Mino HD has: an HDMI connection (plus an included cable) for outputting 1080i video to your HDTV. And it comes with 8GB of built-in memory--all for around $200.

Click Here for full story...

Merry Christmas from iJustine!

4G Mobile Internet in 12 months?

AreaCable.com and TechTVshow.com are pioneers in Internet Broadcasting. To take the show on the road fast mobile Internet access is a must. To meet the need Verizon, AT&T and Sprint are planning to roll out 4g Mobile Broadband.

Verizon Wireless is taking a stand - in the race to deploy 4G LTE mobile broadband service, they don’t want to come in second to AT&T or Japan’s NTT DoCoMo, the latter of which said it would offer such a network commercially in 2010. According to executive vice president and chief technology officer of Verizon Communications, Dick Lynch, they plan to begin rolling the enhanced network capabilities out by about this time next year, ahead of the original 2010 timetable.

The original plan called for initial rollouts in 2010, with a wide commercial launch in 2011 and true mass availability coming shortly after. But according to an IDC analyst, Verizon’s new, more aggressive deployment schedule was likely inspired by the threat of launching after another company. Verizon wants to be first! Can you blame them? They don’t have the iPhone...

If you’re wondering what LTE is, it’s a fourth-generation wireless data system expected to be the next step up in speed and capacity for carriers using the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) platform, which is dominant in most of the world. Like Sprint Nextel’s already deployed (in one city) WiMax, it should deliver multiple megabits per second of throughput.

After introducing LTE, Verizon plans to offer subscribers small in-home base stations known as femtocells, which will extend the signal indoors - likely including built-in Wi-Fi, which will allow newer personal electronics such as cameras to automatically exchange information over the air. Imagine getting home from a trip and having your pictures automatically upload to the internet once you walk through the door. This may be a reality sooner than you think.

Full Story:

http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q408-verizon-rolling-out-4g-lte-mobile-broadband-in-2009/

Related story:

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/12/11/tech-rogers.html

Related Announcement:

LG develops handset chip for fast downloads

4 days ago

ANYANG, South Korea (AP) — LG Electronics Inc. claimed a step forward in the commercialization of the next generation of Internet capable handsets, demonstrating a modem chip with a download speed eight times that of the fastest mobile phones currently on the market.

The South Korean company unveiled the chip, created for a technology standard known as Long-Term Evolution, or LTE, at a research lab in Anyang, just outside Seoul, on Tuesday.

The so-called fourth generation technology, still under development, is vying with the rival WiMax standard to usher in super-fast Web browsing and downloads over mobile phones and other wireless devices.

"Now that LG has developed and tested the first 4G handset modem, a commercially viable LTE handset is on the horizon," Paik Woo-hyun, LG's chief technology officer, told reporters.

LG's claim to be first could not immediately be verified.

The company said that mobile carriers have built test networks and the first mobile phones using the technology will probably be available to consumers in 2010.

LG said it achieved wireless download speeds of 60 megabits per second and upload speeds of 20 Mbps. The fastest phones on the market use a different technology, known as HSDPA, and download at a maximum speed of 7.6 Mbps, according to LG.

The company said that with the technology a 700 megabit movie file can be downloaded in less than one minute at speeds of 100 Mbps.

LTE also allows consumers to stream high definition movies without needing a buffer, which ensures smooth play.

LG said that companies such as Qualcomm Inc., Vodafone Group PLC, Verizon Wireless and Japan's KDDI Corp. are supporting and contributing to the development of the long-term evolution standard.

The rival WiMax, or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, technology is similar to the WiFi signals available at coffee shops and airports but provides wireless data over long distances and is already in use on a limited basis.

WiMax has been backed by South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and Intel Corp., Motorola Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. of the United States.

Chevy Volt

GMs CEO Rick Wagoner will be driving one of the Chevy Volt mules in Cruze bodies through Washington DC tomorrow on his way to give testimony to the Senate Finance committee in support of government loans. He won’t actually be driving it all the way from Detroit.

He will first drive to Detroit in a hybrid Chevrolet Malibu, then he will drive a route from his hotel to GM’s Washington office,and then to Capitol Hill in the Chevy Volt running prototype, or mule.

Then he will be pulling up and stopping to talk to the public. This will occur at 9:30 AM at the corner of Delaware Ave. and C street just outside the Russell Senate Building.

If you’re able to be there, do so!

One of the production Volt show cars will be there on display as well.

A few "Wish List" items from Cali Lewis

GeekBrief.TV #471 | Top 10 Favorite Things from 2008 from Cali Lewis on Vimeo.

Leo LaPorte and Cali Lewis talk about "New Media"

GeekBrief.TV #468 from Cali Lewis on Vimeo.

iJustine - Another great video!

Also see iJustine at USCute.com!

Ashley's First Promo Video!

Blue Bird Girl from Craig Shipp on Vimeo.

Blue Bird Wanderlodge Mobile Office

CraigShipp.com - Photo Blog

IMG_9581, originally uploaded by AreaGuides.com Network.

Here's my main work station in the Blue Bird Bus (videos below)

Blue Bird Mobile Office 3 from Craig Shipp on Vimeo.

Blue Bird Mobile Office from Craig Shipp on Vimeo.

Click Here for lots of Wanderlodge photos!

Canon's 5D Mark II: Amazing HD Video

Tokyo Reality Final
by lejapon

Amber MacArthur

BrunswickVeteransDay.com - Click Here!

Local TV Stations Anticipate Severe Downturn in '09

Local TV Stations Anticipate Severe Downturn in '09; National Spot Advertising Now Expected to Be Down 11.5%

By Brian Steinberg

Published: November 11, 2008
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Local TV stations, already wrestling with technology that changes how people watch their programs and the resulting fallout of ad dollars, have even worse news to consider: The TV-station trade association, the Television Bureau of Advertising, has severely recast its 2009 forecast for local TV advertising downward, suggesting that local stations are about to see their situation go from bad to worse.

The trade group said today it now anticipates total spot TV ad revenue to fall 7% to 11% in 2009, down from a previous forecast of a 2% to 5% drop. Local spot revenue will fall between 4% and 8%, the TVB said, compared with its previous forecast of up 2% to down 1%. Meanwhile, national spot advertising is set to decline between 11.5% and 15.5% in 2009, the group said, down from a previous forecast of 7% to 10%.

The group also said it expects total 2008 spot revenue to fall 7.1% from last year, rather than coming in flat, as was forecast in September.

Perilous situation

The figures illustrate the perilous situation in which local TV outlets find themselves. Flush with a presidential election and Olympics telecasts, 2008 was expected to be a decent year for advertising. But the ongoing downward tilt of the economy has caused some prominent TV advertisers, most notably automotive marketers and car dealerships, to pull back significantly in recent months. Add that to the steady erosion of viewers who can now watch their favorite programs in many new ways, and the situation is dire.

The TVB rarely revises its forecasts. This marks only the second time the group has done so. The first time came after its 2002 forecast was rendered meaningless by Sept. 11, another event that forced advertisers to pull back on spending.

Sarah Lane and Leo Laporte

Click Here to watch!

UStream Flash Media Encoder

Flash Media Encoder gives you professional-quality audio and video broadcasts. Its cutting edge codecs, coupled with Ustream's robust broadcast console is the perfect solution for users seeking high quality streams with powerful interactive features.

http://www.ustream.tv/fme-help

Frederick News Post to stop printing after 125 years?

The video below that the Frederick News Post produced has me thinking. Are they planning on stopping their print newspaper? Are they going to go all Internet? It's well known that their readership is not keeping pace with their costs and newspapers all over the country are in deep trouble so maybe?? You'll notice in the video that they show the transition through various print versions of the "paper" and then they show their website's homepage. I guess only time will tell.

L.A. Times To End National Edition

"...paper copy irrelevant."

By Frank Ahrens

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 3, 2004; Page E02

The Los Angeles Times is killing its printed daily national edition at the end of the year, saying the Internet and other electronic distribution channels have made the paper copy irrelevant.

The Times, owned by Chicago-based Tribune Co., prints the national edition in Baltimore and distributes it in Washington and New York. The Times would not disclose how many copies it sells or whether the edition makes money. Like the paper sold in California, the national edition is a broadsheet, but a pared-down version, focusing mainly on political news and other national stories. more

related story

Kris Krug - Photography Tips

iPhone GIVE-AWAY - Article Publishing Tips

Click Here for contest details!

Behind the Scenes with Leo Laporte

Chevrolet VOLT - Battery Lithium-ion

Reuters has just reported inside sources have confirmed that GM has chosen LG Chem along with Troy, Michigan-based Compact Power Inc. to supply the lithium-ion battery packs for the first generation Chevy Volt.

The contract will be announced in November and the terms are still being worked out.

GM and Compact Power are apparently working out the details of the commercial agreement and how to split warranty costs for the batteries.

GM hasn’t confirmed these reports but an LG Chem spokesman in Korea stated “we were informed that the results are due in November, but we didn’t get any official answer from GM yet. We hope for and expect a good result.”

As we have heard before in a subtle way from GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz, GM was only using one supplier’s packs in the mules. Concurrently, we had heard from Compact Power’s CEO that his batteries were being used in the mules. Sources have now confirmed this is the case and that the mules packs are performing flawlessly.

A123/Continental could still potentially supply Volt packs in the next generation.

Technorati Profile

LIVE video stream from an iPhone???

Adding "Rich Content" to your website!

One of the first rules in traffic generation is add "rich content" to your website. We also know original content is the best way to go but it's sometimes time consuming to go out and generate the content. Below is an example of rich content that I put together using content that was already on the web and easily accessible. YouTube, in most cases, allows us to embed any of their videos without copyright issues. Same goes for linking flickr slide shows. The result is more rich content for our site users to see and it took me about five minutes to build the article.

See:
http://www.frederick.com/Middletown_Knights_Football-a-475.html

Chris Pirillo - Cool Video!

Herman Miller Embody Chair

If you're going to sit at a desk for hours on end reading the CraigShipp.com Blog you might as well be as comfortable as possible!

The result of six years of design tweaking and reportedly millions in development costs, the Embody (photo right) is due in 2009. This follow up to the Aeron (photo below right) which has earned a reported $1.5 billion in profits for Herman Miller promises to be even more comfortable if that's possible. Improvements include a new system of elastic bands that offer universal suspension, a second layer of plastic coils for additional support, and a third layer of plastic hexagons that can move independently. A mesh-fabric cover allows for air circulation, keeping the sitter cool, while seven controls adjust things like lumbar support and seat depth.

If you’re wondering about all that plastic, the chair as a whole is apparently made from 96-percent recycled materials. It’s also constructed from, or with, nothing that could pose a health or environmental risk; the same is true during customer use and final disposal.

The Herman-Miller Embody will be available to order in 2009, with a choice of 13 fabrics and three finishes. It’ll be priced at $1,595.

If you can't wait for the Embody Chair due in 2009 there's always the Herman Miller Aeron chair. Combining sleek elegance and ergonomic support, the Herman Miller designed Aeron represents the pinnacle of luxury technology. The innovative design makes the Aeron chair ideal for the office, home. Strong Pellicle suspension distributes your weight evenly over the back and seat while forming to your body.

The unique ergonomics of the Aeron relieves pressure on your back, legs, and torso. With a specially designed lumbar support, Aeron is the leader in design and comfort. Your body is ever-changing and adapting to its environment, so should your chair. (unboxing photos on flickr)

FULLY Loaded Model Aeron Chair includes:

• Fully adjustable arm rests
• Carbon color with graphite frame
• Tension control
• Height adjustment
• Lumbar support
• Forward and rear tilt locks

Click Here to buy a NEW Aeron Chair at discount!

Colorfest and Frederick.com Promo

Use short and fun videos to get your brand out. Keeping videos under one minute helps. flickr, for example only allows videos up to two minutes. Also, people are busy and like to watch short videos.

New MacBook

By Cisco Cheng

It's been more than two years since Apple has made any significant changes to the 13-inch MacBook Laptop. Two years of stagnation can hurt even a proven recipe, especially one that has been honed in design alone. Compared to its Windows counterparts, the MacBook's features were beginning to look anemic and the economic downturn has raised questions about Apple's pricing strategy. The MacBook 13-inch (Aluminum) couldn't come at a more crucial time for Apple. It uses a completely new manufacturing technique that begins with a thick slab of aluminum and ends with a lusciously thin and gorgeous product. Design alone could undoubtedly attract Mac fanatics and would-be Windows converts. However, features are still a little weak and the price, well, it's not the $800 MacBook that we were all hoping for.

Read the Apple MacBook 13-inch (Aluminum) full review

Craig's comments: After reading Mr. Cheng's article and several other reviews I would choose either the entry level aluminum MacBook or the entry level MacBook Pro. The MacBook is $1,299 and the Pro would run $1,999 (Special Note: As far as I can tell at this time only the 15" Pro model has the new design not the 17"). If you're really going to use the device as a mobile computer and not a desktop replacement I would go for the MacBook if this is going to be your only computer and you're a power user get the Pro. Also, if you need an express slot for your cellular modem or a firewire 800 port you will need to get the 15" Pro model as these are NOT included on the MacBook. Firewire 400 is gone on all these new models (why Apple???)

imeem quality videos!

imeem is good for videos too: http://ping.fm/oKb56

vimeo for videos!

I like the quality of vimeo for videos: http://ping.fm/pCXnX

Slide Show!

New Videos on Viddler

I just uploaded some new videos to Viddler: http://ping.fm/TN7G4

Now, I'm using Ping.fm to update several sites all at the same time....can you say time saver?

iJustine with Nikon D90

I think I'm going to wait until next Spring to buy another DSLR that will also take video clips. There seems to be a lot of movement in that sector.

SNL Palin / Biden Spoof

In The Street 2008 event - Photos + Videos

Click Here for lots of photos!

Cali Lewis LIVE on Bailout Plan

Live Broadcasting by Ustream

UStream Tips

Here are some tips I found on the web for UStream:

The Tools
I used two tools to create the show: CamTwist, to combine graphics with the video 'on the fly' and send the combination to uStream, plus Adobe FireWorks to create the graphics.

If you're on the PC, CamTwist won't work, but WebCam Max will. CamTwist is free. WebCam Max costs $29.95, but is well worth it. Plus their logo is great.

Part 1: The Foundation
In my experience, three things will make or break your show:

1. Bandwidth: When you broadcast, your outgoing bandwidth will be very important. That's your upload speed. Note that most cable and DSL providers give you high download speed, but lousy upload speed. At my house, for example, I get 4 megabits as my download speed, but only 500 kbps as my upload speed. I won't get all geeky about it - suffice it to say I have a river for a download stream, and a small straw for upload. You can do a uStream show with only 300 kbps, but the video will stop and start a lot. For high-quality video, you'll need at least 900 kbps, and more is better.
2. The camera: The higher-quality the original video, the better the show. You can use your webcam (Apple's iSight does a great job). But if you have a DV cam, you can use that for far better results. For my show, I got to go one better and get a stream directly from the TV cameras using a DAC converter.
3. The computer: Really any laptop can handle uStream. I used a MacBook Pro (2 years old). If you're going to use extra tools like CamTwist, make sure you have something fast: A Pentium PC or an Intel Macbook will do the trick. A slower laptop may not deliver the video as quickly as uStream needs it, which again will create stops and starts.

Click Here for the complete article.

Google Sites

Take a look at CraigShipp.com for an example of a website built with Google Sites!

Viddler Test Video

Thurmont Maryland is Beautiful

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

techTVshow.com on UStream

Join us LIVE Monday's at 9pm

Live video by Ustream

Chris Pirillo - GEEK KING

If you need to know why Chris Pirilo is the King of the Geeks see the following from YouTube:

Name: Chris
Age: 35

Chris Pirillo has been participating in Internet conversations since 1992, having launched Lockergnome.com as a content publishing network and building Gnomedex to be one of the blogosphere's highly regarded conferences. He publishes a personal blog and lifecast to tens of thousands of viewers, and is a top subscribed partner on YouTube. When searching Google for "Chris," his site is listed as the first result. Chris also produces weekly video segments for CNN.com Live, where he offers tech advice to a savvy audience.

Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper.

Having recorded over 1,000 videos in the past year, we once cracked the "Top 100" most subscribed throughout the whole of YouTube. Our live stats are even more impressive: over 5 million unique live video viewers watched Chris do his "thing" in 2007 - a total of 2+ million LIVE viewer hours with an average viewing time of 25 minutes per visitor. In August, stats from the live video feed were recorded at 279,878 Viewer Hours, 1,141,472 Viewers, 827,159 Unique Viewers, 395.5 Average Viewers, 707 Hours of live broadcasting.

In the first seven days of launching his most recent Web community, the logs recorded 587,402 pageviews, at 11 pages per visit, 40% bounce rate, ~10m sessions, and 50% return visitors with 3,000+ registrations. It's in his blood to build experiences with communities. He's a monthly columnist for CPU Magazine, and has authored books on business and personal technology.

City: Seattle, WA
Hometown: Des Moines, IA
Country: United States
Occupation: Geek
Schools: University of Northern Iowa
Companies: http://www.lockergnome.com/
Interests and Hobbies: Tech
Movies and Shows: TRON
Music: Techno
Books: Techie
Website: http://chris.pirillo.com/

My New iMAC is due Friday

Here's a post I found regarding upgrading to a new MAC (I hope it's true!!):

When migrating from and old to a new Windows machine, I would always plan for two days of hell, followed by two weeks of minor (and sometimes major) aggravation when some utility that I needed in that moment had yet to be installed or configured. I had heard that Macs have a migration assistant, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Find out what happened (as if you don't already know) after the jump.

Well, tonight I connected the two machines via a FireWire cable, and let the Migration Assistant do its thing. At first I was a bit put off by the four hour estimate to copy 60 GB, however, that quickly dropped to under two hours. To be honest, it was a loooong two hours, since neither machine was available to me during the process. You know, it can get a bit like watching a pot waiting for it to boil.

But the moment of truth came when it had completed. I dutifully turned off the "old" Mac as I was told to do, but I could barely contain myself from scoffing at the very idea that I might not need it further tonight. Then I let the MacBook Pro boot up. Hey, it knew my name and contact info already. Hey, it had my profile picture already set. Hey, that's my desktop wallpaper. Holy #$^*, all of my startup utilities are dutifully starting up, and my dock is identical to what it was on my MacBook!

That was all well and good, but are any of these programs actually going to work? I launched BonEcho (the Intel-Mac optimized version of Firefox), and was blown away to see all of the tabs that I had left open using the TabMixPlus extension opening up here on the new machine!

Other than needing to install keyboard and mouse drivers for my (gasp) Microsoft keyboard and mouse, I have yet to find anything that doesn't just work. I'd like to accuse all you long-time Mac types of keeping this secret from Windows users, but the truth is that you have been telling us, and we haven't wanted to hear it. My biggest fear when getting my first Mac was that I didn't want to become an elitist Mac snob - they drove me crazy. But now I realize it's not their fault; when your computing platform is so noticeably better than Windows, it's hard not to get a bit full of yourself. Just ask my family, friends and co-workers. Really.

Full article:
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/30/migrating-to-a-new-mac-say-hello-to-a-mac-switcher/

Also see: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1554

Google Android powered Mobile Phones

True to form Google is planning on offering a lot of value to mobile phone users.

Google is not manufacturing phones but instead making the software for them - called Android - and relying on a consortium of hardware partners to make handsets in an array of shapes and sizes.

In stark contrast to Apple's "one handset fits all" strategy with the iPhone, Google is hoping to mix Nokia's approach of "a handset to suit every style" with Microsoft's tactic of making the software, then winning market share by roping in many partner companies.

However, while Microsoft charges phone makers for its Windows Mobile software, Google's Android software will be free. Google says it just wants to create the ultimate internet-enabled mobile phone. The payoff for Google is obvious: more consumers of Google services, especially in large developing countries such as India and China, where many people have their first contact with the internet through their mobile phone.

"What's good for the web is good for Google," says Dan Morrill, a Google developer advocate in the US. "The more comfortable with using the web that users are, the more frequently they'll do a Google search.

"We needed it to exist ... we took a look at the mobile space and realised some of the things we wanted to do were not possible in the current landscape of the mobile industry."

What could Google not do? "It came down to permission," he says. "As a PC user, when you open your web browser, you don't have to ask your ISP's permission to change the homepage. When you want to install software, you don't have to go to your computer maker and ask permission."

Morrill is referring to the way telcos have controlled the settings on mobile phones to funnel users back into their WAP portals and the way companies such as Apple have full control over what software can be installed on an iPhone.

"We wanted to create a platform that was open from end to end," he says.

Given its history of free services, Google may also win market share quickly by providing premium services such as push email - where email is delivered to the phone instantly - and free, rather than levying a monthly or annual fee as do BlackBerry maker RIM and iPhone maker Apple. "I can't comment specifically," Morrill says, "but it is safe to say we are not going to radically change our business model of providing value to users, just because this is a mobile device."

Google's business model parallels that of the AreaGuides.com Network as many of the services offered by AreaGuides are easy to use and, at the same time, FREE.

techTVshow.com LIVE - Show 1 - afterglow party

Click Here for the Frederick.com article!

New iPod Touch is out!

They got it half right: It now has a speaker. Maybe the next model will have a mic so we can use it for VOiP. Come on Apple go all the way! Click Here for lots more!

Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro

BUY THIS CAMERA!

The Logitech website says "Enjoy image-perfect detail and clarity. Carl Zeiss® optics and autofocus keep images razor-sharp, even in extreme close-ups."

The bottom line is it works! I just plugged the camera into my USB port on my PowerBook G4 and it works. No software to fool around with - plug and play all the way! Just buy it!

Can be used with VidBlaster Home a very easy to use video production tool. Stream live multicam video to any Windows Media Server, or to video streaming services like Ustream and Stickam. Quickly create videos thanks to one take live recording, mixing your camera video with video clips. No editing required. No rendering needed. One click publishing to Mevio or any WordPress blog included. VidBlaster Home supports two cameras and up to four players.

Microsoft Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates Commercial

Do they really think this will sell Windows software???

Justin.TV

AreaCable and AreaRadio going LIVE?

Justin.tv is all about the live in “live broadcasting”. Everyone knows that video is now, finally, a big deal on the Internet. But the video that is a big deal is recorded video: clips on YouTube (or a bunch of other sites that aggregate or distribute video) and movies and TV shows on iTunes or Amazon.com or wherever. Justin.tv specializes in live video. What impressed us and lead us to invest in the company is that the co-founders didn’t just turn on a web site that let people broadcast live to whoever is watching; they designed a system that allowed anyone to broadcast live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere that has a reasonable cell phone signal: the most extreme version of live broadcasting.

This accomplishment was first shown in alpha versions earlier this year by the eponymous Justin Kan attaching a web camera to his hat and committing to broadcasting his life, or “lifecasting”. Out of that experience, Justin and his co-founders, CEO Michael Seibel, CTO Emmet Shear and VP Engineering Kyle Vogt, figured out how to build an end to end system that made broadcasting a video signal with even a marginal cellular signal tolerable and, most particularly, made it possible to broadcast high-resolution video both functionally and at extremely low cost. On top of that, the team has built a system for letting viewers and broadcasters cooperate in real time to make sure that the most interesting stuff being broadcast gets promoted to the “front page.”

Call us crazy but we think that a business that can reliably and systematically show people the most interesting things going on in real life in real time anywhere in the world might well be a really popular destination on the Internet. I like to think of it like this: If you can get a million people out of the six billion in the world to create a live broadcast at any one time, there’s bound to be something interesting enough to get a significant percentage of the people sitting in front of their computers to check in and see what’s happening.

Indeed, we believe that Justin.tv could well represent the first instance of a new form of media. With each new turn in technology comes a new form of media. Usually the first thing people do with a new technology is to adapt the old thing. When movies where invented, everyone stuck a camera on a tripod and filmed plays. The first radio broadcasts were simply the audio for staged plays being sent over the airwaves. We think YouTube represents early broadband video, essentially redistributing home movies and other recorded videos. Justin.tv is the first instance of a new media.

As always, there is plenty of competition for Justin.tv including Ustream, Stickam and others. In our case, we have bet on an extremely talented team of youngsters who have shown clear vision and motivation to build a business. Alsop Louie Partners lead the Series A financing of Justin.tv, which closed in August, after the company was seed-funded by Y Combinator and other angel investors and bootstrapped by the founders in an apartment in San Francisco. Check out the team on their own office camera.

(Screenshot above from http://www.justin.tv/ijustine)

Are you looking for Mr. Right?

Attention young ladies: I have a complete plan that is guaranteed to produce results and you'll have a good time AND earn money all at the same time. First, here's what we need from you: You need to be outgoing and willing to learn about the Internet and your community. You need to be able to handle disappointment along with elation. You need to accept training.

Here's what you get in return: You represent the AreaGuides.com Network and the local website for your area. You will earn high commissions for every new sponsor you generate for the network. You will meet the movers and shakers in your community and they will be impressed with your accomplishments. You will meet successful business owners on a daily basis (some will be single). Those that meet you will be impressed with your abilities. The key to meeting someone special is putting yourself in front of as many qualified prospects as possible as often as possible and with my program you will also be earning lots of $$ in the process.

Is being an account representative for the AreaGuides.com Network for everyone? NO, but if you have what it takes it may be for you. If you would like to talk contact me ASAP as this is a limited offer. I can make this happen for you but you need to be serious about success. Hope to hear from you soon! e-mail me at cs@areaguides.com

Apple steps up iPhone production

iPhones are going to be everywhere!

According to a media report, Apple is increasing production of its iPhone mobile handset. Citing sources in the know, the online edition of Business Week magazine reported today that the US company wants to build 40 to 45 million devices in the coming twelve months.

Apple raised its target following a stronger than expected, July launch of the new UMTS-capable iPhone 3G. Currently, some 150,000 iPhones are built per day.

This is not surprising as many iPhone users have said they are buying the device to view e-mail and websites on the large touch screen. To address this huge new market the AreaGuides.com Network has stated that their web-content is being re-designed with the iPhone in mind.

1995 Harley FLHTCU for sale!

CraigShipp.com - Photo Blog

IMG_0579, originally uploaded by AreaGuides.com Network.

1995 Harley-Davidson FLHTC Ultra Classic Peace Officer Special Edition. Loaded with accessories (chrome rotor and calliper covers, lighted chrome lower fork covers, fairing chrome trim, saddlebag glow lights, tourpak enhancements, rider seat back, chrome luggage rack, chrome passenger leg-guards and more; plus all of the delivered Ultra-Classic "extras" including a.m./f.m. radios plus tape player & c.d. radio with mic and mic rack, electronic cruise control, voice-activated intercom); motorcycle is in excellent condition, great (blue and blue) paint finish, never damaged anywhere. $5495. As is. Recently completely serviced with addition of new tires, new battery, wheel-bearing & cable lubes, etc. Needs a rebuilt engine (aluminum cases unable to hold head bolts at torque).

However, we can delliver this rare "Shrine" Ultra Classic with a rebuilt Harley engine (as-new with zero mileage) installed and tuned by a Certified Harley Mechanic for $8495. Be the first caller on this one! Call the original owner direct Harley is SOLD!

Tourism - The Tourism Council of Frederick County

Frederick County Maryland is less than one hour from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and nearby Gettysburg, Antietam, and Harpers Ferry. Let us be your guide as you discover the many attractions, historic sites, and Civil War heritage that our county has to offer.

The Tourism Council of Frederick County plays a key role in the $294 million in tourism-related revenues which are generated for businesses and attractions. As a TCFC member, we’ll give you opportunities for visibility which will have an important financial impact on your given enterprise. Sign on with TCFC and help us increase local tourism revenues through your success!

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TCFC Mission Statement - The Tourism Council of Frederick County is a public-private partnership dedicated to enhancing the economic benefit of tourism for Frederick County's businesses, attractions, local governments, and residents. Membership is open to businesses and individuals interested in promoting tourism in Frederick County.

Website:

http://www.fredericktourism.org

CradlePoint's EVDO portable router

We really like CradlePoint's first EVDO router, the CTR350 'Travel Router', and now CradlePoint has given us a new toy to review.

How do you improve upon something that was pretty good in the first place? You add a feature that no other 3G router has made available before: built-in battery power!

The new CradlePoint PHS300 takes everything we really liked in the CTR350 and adds a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery to allow a kind of wireless freedom never before available - and it sells for just $179.99 ($159.99 if purchased with Sprint or Verizon EVDO Card with 2 year service).

CradlePoint says that the "PHS" stands for "Personal HotSpot", but we like to think it means "Portable HotSpot" because any hotspot can be 'personal', but only the PHS300 can be more portable than any router we've ever used, 3G or otherwise.

First, we'll talk some about the hardware and then we'll elaborate on some cool ideas we have for this new router.

At 4.9" x 2.9" x 0.6", the PHS300 is about 25% bigger than the CTR350. The extra space makes room in the design for the Lithium-Ion battery.

Full review: http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/2201/63

Eye-Fi

Upload Photos to flickr in Real Time via WiFi

Yes, there really is Wi-Fi inside that tiny little card. We think it’s going to change the way people take, save and share photos.

All Eye-Fi Cards come with everything needed to make it simple to set up and connect to your home Wi-Fi network. After that, pop the card into your digital camera and start capturing memories. It stores pictures like a regular SD card no matter where you are, and uploads automatically as soon as you return to your wireless network. All you have to do is turn the camera on.

Here’s how Eye-Fi works: Camera owners set up their Eye-Fi account online and choose where they’d like to upload photos online and on their desktops. Photos can be sent to 17 photo-sharing and blogging sites, including iPhoto, Flickr, Shutterfly and TypePad. They then pop the Eye-Fi card into their camera’s memory card slot and snap away. A Wi-Fi chip (made by Santa Clara, Calif.-based Atheros) then communicates with their home network and automatically uploads photos to their computer and the Web.

One of the exciting new features of the Eye-Fi Explore Card is the ability to automatically geotag digital photos. Now anyone with a digital camera and Eye-Fi Explore Card will be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi location data supplied by Skyhook Wireless to add geotags to their photos.

This new feature adds a new dimension to organizing, sharing and viewing digital photos. Geotaging photos has never been easier!

Click Here for more...

Also see: http://www.sitepen.com/blog/2007/11/11/eye-fi-launches

Content and Content Distribution is King

Here I'm going to share some tips and tricks that I've picked up over the years regarding getting the most out of the Internet. I'm going to get specific but the general idea is to work web-based and accumulate content that attracts focused traffic to your website or websites and builds your brand names. I'm going to review various FREE tools you can use and share tips that will help you do so without burning too much valuable time. Attn. Business owners: In addition to using the tools I discuss here you will want to become a Sponsor of the AreaGuides.com Network.

Equipment - I use an Apple computer and a Canon Powershot point-and-shoot camera. You can use a Windows PC as well. For ease-of-use you might want to get a Casio camera with the YouTube capture mode. This will allow you to upload your video clips without having to convert them first. This will save a lot of time. With either point-and-shoot camera you will be able to take still photos and video clips with the same device also saving time.

Click Here for full article!

Mobile iphone post

Ok this is a mobile post from my iPhone. Typing on this isn't so bad. You just need to trust the system to anticipate what you are typing and you can move along.

CellSpin Fun Time

With this new CellSpin account we can fire audio clips, photos and videos up to multiple Blogs all at the same time. Below, you see a photo we fired into this Blog and above is an audio clip.

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

IPod Touch

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Also see CraigShipp.com

Don't forget to also visit my website CraigShipp.com

Don't believe them - no issues!

If you've been reading all the negative iPhone 3g reviews don't believe them. I've been playing with my new iPhone 3g for only 24 hours but I can tell you there is nothing like it. Including the first generation iPhone. The look, the feel, the audio and the software options are much improved. Maybe the cell phone reception is a little off of par but all the other features more than make up for any shortcomings. I'll be adding to this report after I've had the phone for a while but don't pass go just go out and buy one NOW!

Video update (8/1/08):

Update 5/05/2009; I'm still using my iPhone and it just keeps getting better. The apps that keep coming out allow the phone to do amazing things while still running like a MAC - ROCK SOLID! Also, the AT&T Network is much improved with 3g coverage most everywhere I go. I'm iPhone all the way and I can't wait to get a new one in June!

Paper For Bird Cages?

Today's headlines read: "New York Times to raise newsstand price to $1.50" and "S&P may cut New York Times debt into junk territory" and "Profit Plunge at the New York Times"

Here's more: "The New York Times (NYT: 13.20, +0.34, +2.64%) fell as low as $12.38 this morning after its second quarter earnings missed estimates. Profits plunged 82% to $21 mn versus the $118 mn posted in the same period a year ago, a period that was helped along by the one-time sale of an asset."

So, if the New York Times is crashing and burning what are we going to use to line our bird cages when they finally stop publishing printed newspapaers? Maybe it's time to free the birds? After all the rest of us are going to be free of the New York Times!

Will It Blend? - iPhone

This is a good one!

iPhone Shortage

I'm not surprised that the local AT&T store told me there is a two to four week wait expected for new iPhone purchases. My close inspection of a demo phone confirmed my opinion that this phone will sell well and is likely to change the way we all use our phones and the way other manufacturers and carriers look at their product offerings. Quite frankly the iPhone is clearly the leader of the pack and is worth the money for those who really want to get the most out of their cell phone subscription dollars. I've long believed it is a wise practice to have the best tools available for the task at hand and right now the iPhone 3g is the best power cell phone out there. I'm so convinced I'm now on the waiting list!

Pictured at right is one of the must-have apps for the iPhone: ShoZu

Can The New iPhone Revolutionize Radio?

(from CBS) The new Apple 3G iPhone has received a lot of attention, but the more important story isn't the new hardware, but Apple's application store and the many programs that run on the new phone.

Thanks to a few of those programs there's an even larger story - the iPhone may fundamentally change the way people listen to the radio when they're in their cars or otherwise on the go.

Two free applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and another program that costs only $4.99, make it possible to listen to live radio on the iPhone from anywhere, including a moving car.

Unlike those pre-TV days when families sat around a big radio console in the living room, a lot of people now listen to radio mainly when they're on the move. Internet radio has been around for more than a decade, car radios were introduced in the 1930's and portable transistor radios became available in the 1950s.

Until now, live radio pretty much meant listening to a broadcast station with transmitters relatively nearby. But with the iPhone you can listen to stations from around the world, including some that broadcast only on the Internet and don't even have transmitters.

Over time, this could be as disruptive to the radio broadcast industry as the Web has been to print. That's not to say that major broadcast organizations (including CBS, which owns CBSNews.com and for which I serve as technology consultant) can't survive in the age of mobile Internet radio, but it does mean they will face competition from new players, including startups operating from peoples' spare rooms.

Click Here for a demo of Pandora's FREE Internet Radio service.

...Full CBS Story...

Google Search - Thurmont Parade

Above is a screen capture of the Google Search "Thurmont Parade" AreaGuides.com Network content is the top five hits and includes videos, Blog entry and the Frederick.com article that was published yesterday! Click on the image for enlargement.

iPhone 3g Holding Pattern

Friday AT&T and Apple stores will start selling the new iPhone 3g at 8am. I'm not going to be in line and it's not just because I'm not a morning person it's because there's just too much movement in this sector and I'm planning on waiting for some of the dust to settle.

For example AT&T is still working to expand their 3g coverage area and as of now Frederick County, for example, is still not included in this faster mobile data coverage area. Also phones powered by Google's new Andriod operating system are due out later this year and they may be worth looking at. The bottom line is I love the direction the iPhone is taking the so-called smart phone market but I want to wait at least a few more months before upgrading my Treo 755P.

Old Media Troubles

According to AdvertisingAge the old media is continuing to decline.

On The Way Out
Broadcast TV, magazines, newspapers, radio and outdoor were the categories buyers were most pessimistic about. A higher percentage of respondents said they expect to decrease their budgets in those media in the next six months than said they would increase them. Pessimism in broadcast TV and newspapers was particularly bad: 30% of respondents said they expect spending in broadcast to decrease in the next six months, and only 14% said they expect it to increase. For national newspapers, 44% of respondents said they expect to see a decline in spending, and only 10% said they expected a rise.

Bright spots
The news isn't so bad for sellers in online, cable TV and mobile, however. Those were the only three media categories in which a higher percentage of buyers said they expect to raise budgets rather than decrease them. In online, 72% of respondents anticipate jumps in their company's spending; 4% said they were expecting a decrease. For cable, 28% said they expect an uptick in spending and 20% expect a drop; for mobile, 53% said they expect an increase and 9% expect a decrease.

Newspapers Are Dead

After many major newspaper publishers announced last week that they were suffering higher losses than expected and laying off up to a third of their staffers even those in the business are writing about their own death. Well, they can all look at the bright side at least we may be able to save some trees.

New Web Addresses Now Allowed

A NEW era in the way websites are named has been ushered in, with web regulators voting overnight to allow the creation of thousands of new domain names.

The body that oversees the internet's structure approved a "land grab" for new web addresses that will allow people to apply for any top-level domain name - but it will cost them at least $US 100,000 to do so.

Scripts other than Latin - for example Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Cyrillic - will also be allowed, opening up the internet to many millions in the Middle East and Asia.

Until now top-level domain names - the .com or .org at the end of a web address - have been restricted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the international not-for-profit body set up in 1998 to to oversee the structure of the internet and maintain its stability.

ICANN regulates the way web addresses are assigned to ensure that computers can communicate with each other.

The free-for-all agreed in Paris is seen as a great leap forward. ICANN is not being forced to act because there are not enough name options, but because it wants to open up the system to increase consumer choice.

The most popular top level domain name in the world is .com and there are about another 20 possibilities such as .org or .net. Every country has a country code domain name such as .com.au and co.uk (Britain). Now the possibilities are endless and the new names could range from place names to commodities.

Paul Twomey, the chief executive of ICANN, said: "It's a massive increase in the real estate of the internet. It will allow groups, communities and businesses to express their identities online."

Experts are divided on how many new domain names will come into existence. Skeptics argue that some of the more recent additions such as .name introduced in 2000 have failed to take off. But several categories of suffix, such as those relating to cities, are sure to prove popular.

It is easy to imagine addresses ending in .london or .paris. City authorities could apply for use of the domain name and then group services and companies under the .london umbrella.

Another top-level domain name likely to attract attention is .web.

It was not clear last night how many big name companies would want to change their well-established web addresses to take advantage of the new opportunities. Some were asking whether, for instance, Microsoft would want to stop residing at www.microsoft.com.

But there is the potential for large sums to be won - and lost - amid fears that "cyber-squatters" would cash in on the liberalization to register hundreds of new web addresses created within each new suffix, and seek to sell them on to companies or organizations that want to claim them.

Big companies already spend millions of pounds buying up web addresses similar to their own to protect their brands. At the other end of the scale, those with money to burn might register their own personal domains.

Would-be applicants are advised that the process is different from registering a regular website. Top-level domains require significant equipment - including servers, routers, and databases - to run.

ICANN said it would begin taking applications for new domains next April, with the first expected to be in operation by the end of 2009.

The system is open to anyone, but applicants have to show they have a "business plan and technical capacity".

Disputed domains will be auctioned to the highest bidder, though in some cases intellectual property law may help a company to secure a name.

ICANN also reserves the right to reject a domain on "morality or public order" grounds, in which case the matter may go to an international arbitration committee.

One area of dispute will be domain names useful to the sex industry. Icann has in the past rejected the .xxx domain name on the grounds that it would be forced to become a content regulator. Whether .sex or .hot may be now allowed remains unclear.

So, what does all this mean? The bottom line is .com domains are only going to become more valuable as more players enter the domain game and realize only one fact is certain: .com is the beach front Internet Real Estate!

YouTube - Best Quality

YouTube Tips

YouTube Upload Guidelines - For those who want the best possible results on YouTube.

General Purpose Settings - up to 6 minutes

A simple way to ensure that the quality is there is to export to MPEG-4 with:

• H.264 video at 2000Kbits/sec (2Mbits/sec or 250KBytes/sec)
• 320x240 video size (deinterlaced or simply use one field)
• Mono audio with AAC at 64 Kbit/sec (or 128 Kbit/sec for stereo)
• Recommended Sample Rate and
• Best Encoding Quality.
• In the Video Options Main Profile should be checked on and Best Quality (Multi-pass) is advised for best quality.

These settings will be fine up to 800 Mbits aka 100 MBytes. At the proposed settings, any file shorter than 6 minutes and 15 seconds will be within YouTube's 100MB per upload limit.

Casio Exilim

Last year Casio introduced two point and shoot cameras that have a built in capture mode optimized for YouTube. The cameras also come with software to easily upload your videos to YouTube. This is a great way for those without the time, software or knowledge to do it the old way. And now after the cameras have been out for a while the price has come down. Costco now has the 8 megapizel model for $189.

http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/reviews/136908