| Wednesday, 21 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- Technology is a mixed bag. I have two sites deleted by hackers and get ripped off for $2000 in an Ebay auction. But then there’s Rock Band. #
- Larry Lessig weighs in against the current Orphan Works act. http://snipurl.com/29vn6 Right idea, lousy implementation. Thx @michaelpinto! #
| Tuesday, 20 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- i love you #
- Dang it. Henry got a hold of the Twitter again. Henry, back to your math homework. NOW! #
- @adambutt The newest TWiT song, “I’m A TWiT,” is by Geoff Smith. It’s going to the TWiT Live theme song. http://thegeoffsmith.com/ #
- A little chilly up here at 34,000. Air’s a little thin, too. #
| Monday, 19 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- We’ll recreate the Ultimate Gaming Machine on TWiT Live and give it away after. No Twittter membership required. http://snipurl.com/29l98 #
- @MasterZap I’m not reneging. I just have to figure out the fairest legal way to give UGM away. Please don’t unfollow anyone on my account! #
- @gully666uk I have to get some legal advice on contests. If I can give it away internationally I certainly will. 25% of our audience non-US. #
- @RobertBIrish Absolutely not, Robert. I was just getting overcompetitive (which is a problem I have). We’re not going to use Twitter at all. #
- @dogsupporter I don’t blame you a bit. I can only say I was drunk and out of control. Everyone follow @kevinrose and unfollow me. Please! #
- The new video card fixed my Mac Pro. It’s good as new. Missed ya big fella. (Original Mac Pro: bad ATI X1900 -> new Apple Nvidia 88 … #
| Monday, 19 May 2008, 5:55 am Tags: TechTV, TWiT Live, UGM |
Ten years ago we launched ZDTV (which later became TechTV) and The Screen Savers, its most popular show. We wanted to begin with a bang, so Kate Botello and I decided to build the “Ultimate Gaming Machine” basing it on Lloyd Case’s design from Computer Gaming World. In 1998, that meant a PII 400 Mhz, 128 MB of RAM, and a fabulously expensive widescreen Sony CRT (and a price tag of over $10,000). Here’s what it looked like back then…
There have been 9 UGMs built since then, the most recent for Attack of the Show in 2005 (which cost around $6000 and was a lot faster). Since I’m launching TWiT Live 10 years later I thought it would be fun to see what the UGM would look like these days. Only this time, we’re going to let you build it.
Starting Friday, June 6, we’ll be inviting you to pick the parts for UGM 2008. From processors, to motherboard, to video and sound system, the choice will be yours. We’ll spend a couple of hours debating the merits of each component, with expert commentary to help you decide, then when we reach consensus we’ll buy it. At the end of the month we’ll assemble our creation and then give it away to some lucky TWiT Live viewer.
I’m not sure exactly how we’ll give it away. I know I mentioned this on TWiT and proposed a crazy scheme to get me more followers on Twitter. All I can say is I must have been drunk. It won’t be necessary to follow me, or Dvorak, and it definitely won’t be necessary to unfollow Kevin. I’m going to check with the legal department and find a fair way to do this that doesn’t require anyone to join Twitter!
We’ll kick things off Friday, June 6, at 3p Pacific, 6p Eastern, 2200 UTC with a processor showdown. AMD or Intel, which will it be? I’ll have experts on both sides then I’ll ask you to decide. June 13 it’s Motherboards and Memory. June 20th, video cards and monitors. June 27th storage and peripherals. We’ll finish the machine on the 4th of July, choose the best five games for it, and award it to a lucky winner.
So join us Fridays starting in June as we recreate one of the most loved bits we ever did on The Screen Savers. It should be a lot of fun, and who knows, you could walk away with UGM 10!
| Sunday, 18 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- @digitalkitty and I went to Costco to get stuff for the studio: batteries, iPods, a 37" Toshiba LCD TV, and one 6-gallon tub of Velveeta. #
- @patricknorton Guests of TWiT Live dine at the world-famous Della Fattoria Cafe in downtown Petaluma. Where they stay is their own problem. #
- @digitalkitty You think maybe we should build the new ultimate gaming machine on TWiT? Start specing the hardware! #
- I’m kind of sad. The 10th Anniversary of the launch of ZDTV was May 11 and I neglected to note it in any way. #
- @MicrosoftVista I’ve always bought my rechargeable batteries from Thomas Distributing: http://thomas-distributing.com #
- @XPR The new Tricaster is working great – I’m having a blast playing with it, but until the 2.0 software comes out we can’t use it on air. #
- I’m going to turn my old Mac mini into a media center with XBMC. Ordered an El Gato EyeTV 250+ to connect cable. What else do I need? #
| Saturday, 17 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- Took some time today to breathe and think. Cleaned up the studio, wired up the Tricaster, and dusted the Emmy. #
- Just so ya know – don’t ask me to promote your Twitter based service if it’s called twit-something. TWiT is my trademark and I’m sensitive. #
- Do you ever get so apathetic that even when you read an email that you really should respond to you just go ‘meh!’ That’s me right now. #
- NY Times says it tried to contact me for story on Stickam spam, but I have no email or phone msgs. Haven’t checked the homing pigeons tho. #
- @infoholic If you’ve been getting Stickam spam read David Gallagher’s article: http://snipurl.com/29949 – I get msgs like that all the time. #
- @JTShea If I respond to that my Twitter would be filled with other people begging me to say hi. I don’t negotiate with terrorists. Hi. #
- It’s American Graffiti Day in Petaluma. (Some of the movie was filmed here.) Place is full of old cars and Fonzies. Where were you in ’62? #
- I’m live on WJR Detroit with the Internet Advisors, Foster, Ed, and Gary in just a moment. 16:9 video at http://twitlive.tv, too. #
| Friday, 16 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- Today was a nightmare technically but very satisfying nevertheless. I think we’re having a problem with power and heat. The Mac Pro died. #
- I’m pretty sure it was the X1900 video card in the Mac Pro that bit the dust. Video had been deteriorating for weeks. Ordered an 8800. #
- Reading the Tricaster manual and dreaming of barn door wipes to be. #
- @digitalkitty Oooo. Dream sequence fades. Very cool. We used those a lot on The Screen Savers. Tomorrow is Tricaster play day. #
- Getting ready to do Coast to Coast AM with George Noory on the Missouri My Space indictment. #
- @ComputerNerd53 You have to fit your presentation to the stage. George has a more relaxed late night style – so I tried to match! #
- @Stranahan Tricaster Studio with four (maybe five) cameras and several computer screens. I can’t wait to play with it tomorrow. #
- @lonbaker We’re using 11 litepanels: 4 1×1, 4 mini, 3 micros. You don’t really need that many but we wanted flexibility and depth. #
- @Steve95613 Never met Art Bell. He was supposed to join us at a Premiere dinner with Bob Crane last January but went to bed instead. #
- @crips07 @crips07 Thanks Chris! If you ever have any openings on the weekend call Premiere Radio about the Tech Guy show. I hear it’s great! #
- @dmcglathery http://www.eset.com is good for both anti-virus and anti-spyware. Removal isn’t always possible however. Once infected, format. #
- @Stranahan Newtek has been great. Philip Nelson sent Donny O up from San Antonio with a replacement unit when the first arrived DOA. #
- @biird The Tricaster is going to let me be Director, TD, tape op, CG op, and host all at the same time. My ADD addled self is stoked. #
- @THErealDVORAK Not THAT Bob Crane. The Bob Crane that runs C Crane Radio. http://ccradio.com Hoooogan! #
- @THErealDVORAK I like http://speedtest.net – but I’ve always been a sucker for a flashy interface. 22/3 Mbps from Comcast Business w/ Burst. #
- @Dan_H Probaby because they’ve been holding their breath walking past Accounting. #
| Thursday, 15 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- Back from getting ear molds for my new Ultimate Ears headphones. Turns out I’m 1 in 6 people who have "ticklish ear canal syndrome." Kaff #
- @danegolden What Dane is to polite to say is: Leo screwed up and has left the office and can’t be found. I’ll go in tonight and put it out. #
- Congratulations to the Plaxo guys on their acquisition by Comcast today. Now where do I go to close my account? #
- Can’t find a way to kill my Plaxo account. I don’t want Comcast to have my personal info. I really don’t want them to have my friends info. #
- Ahhh. Here it is: Delete Plaxo Acct: http://tinyurl.com/6rw2ch #
- This American Twitterer: @iraglass – how soon before he overtakes Kevin Rose? #
- The morning air feels like warm tea. It’s going to be a scorcher today. Moved the computer CPUs out from under my desk to near the window. #
- After talking with @iJustine I’ve decided to use Disqus for my comment system at http://leoville.com. She’s such an inspiration. Cute, too. #
- CBS buys cnet for US$1.8 B. Interesting to see MSM snap up devalued new media companies. They must know something the market doesn’t. #
- @donreisinger You’ll see. I’ll never forget Eric Hippeau’s company-wide voicemail announcing the sale of Ziff-Davis. #
- Glad I’m doing Buzz Out Loud this morning. (10a Pacific, UTC-7 on http://twitlive.tv). #
- @donreisinger I think CBS is going to love you. This is actually a big opportunity for you and @mollywood and @acedtect #
- Spare the Air Day in the SF Bay Area. I’m walking to work. And I promise to fart less. #
- @jimlunsford I always worry when a big media company buys a new media company. They usually don’t get it. But to me c|net _is_ big media! #
- @timcourtney Really Tim? I guess they have plans to do something with the old TSS assets? Who knows? G4 nauseates me. #
| Wednesday, 14 May 2008, 11:59 pm Tags: |
- @digitalkitty is going to teach us welding around 10p PDT tonight at http://twitlive.tv – I swear she’s the next Yoshi. #
- Change of plans. @digitalkitty is streaming welding lessons at http://www.stickam.com/twitcolleen #
- Thanks for the Pentel care package @GBLPR! I love those G2s almost as much as I love Twitter! #
- @robbellbottom A Coast Guard’s chief’s hat would be so cool. As you may have noticed, I collect hats! Thanks! #
- @robbellbottom I’m leaning in favor of the Orphan Works Act, but there are two sides to it. I look forward to hearing Larry Lessig’s take. #
- @chrisbrogan I use Audible on Macs only. Don’t use the Audible software, use iTunes. I just download and add to iTunes. Voila! #
- @StevenVore Larry Lessig is on his yearly month off. But when he gets back I’ll ask him on TWiT to talk about the Orphan Copyrights Act. #
| Wednesday, 14 May 2008, 6:17 am Tags: TWiT Live |
We’re inching along with TWiT Live, my attempt to turn the humble Tech Guy Labs into an Internet TV station. If you saw the earlier pictures or video tour you wouldn’t recognize the place. It’s turned into a bustling hub of activity and an actual workplace.
To start with we have an office manager and bookeeper, Frédérique (now I’m not the only person with acute accents around here).
Frédérique is an old family friend who comes in every morning to make sure things are running smoothly.
Colleen is our new studio manager and resident geek. She is helping me build the studio and has been invaluable in getting the wires connected.
Her latest feat is putting in this guerilla lighting rig. It’s handy having a welder on staff.
It’s very weird having employees. The guy from ADP came in today and we set up payroll, taxes, worker’s comp, benefits, and so on. I incorporated TWiT as an LLC some time ago – now the chickens have come home to roost. I’m really am the Chief TWiT now (although I still can’t bring myself to put that on official papers).
I’ve promoted Dane to President and Biz Dev guy. He’s been my invaluable right arm for more than a year now, and without him TWiT would never have grown past a handful of poorly edited shows. He’s still doing all the editing and posting but I’m looking to hire an in-house part-time editor to free Dane up to do more high-level planning. Which frees me up to do 20 hours of streaming video a week.
We even have a water cooler around which we can gather and gossip.
As far as the studio goes, we’re almost done. We’ve got the lights in, thanks to Pat Grosswendt and litepanels.com. They have already made a huge difference.
We are installing our new Tricaster Studio on Friday so I’ll finally have more than one camera online. The Tricaster will let me switch between up to six cameras (we have four Canon XL-2s and will probably buy another) and several computer screens (so you can finally see our Skype callers, hosts, and guests). When the Tricaster comes online the fun really begins. It’ll be just like the Gerry Todd show…
I’m pleased to announce that our streaming host for all this will be Stickam.com. They’ve really stepped up to help us make this work. Today they put us on a dedicated server cluster which should help us scale to more viewers without slowdowns. We’ll be using the Flash Media Encoder on our end (once we get the new Tricaster 2.0 software) to improve quality, and we hope to start sending the show in widescreen 16:9 soon.
We’ll be using the integrated Stickam chat to get viewers on the air so sign up for a free Stickam account now and request friendship with Leo Laporte so we can put you on. Stickam is helping us design a better page at TWiTLive.tv, too.
I turn on the cameras every day except Monday and Friday from 11a-4p Pacific (2-7p Eastern, 6-11p UTC). You can subscribe to our production calendar using RSS, ICS, or HTML:
If you subscribe using Google calendar, Outlook, or iCal the calendar should get updated automatically (shows are often being moved or added). Turn on time zone support in your calendaring program to convert the times to your local time. I also post changes and updates to the TWiT Live account on Twitter, and Stickam can send you SMS, Email, or IM notifications when we turn on the cameras.
As for content, it might not be as jazzy as the Gerry Todd Show, but I do hope to keep the pipeline filled with interesting information. To start with you’ll be able to see all the TWiT show being produced. They’re all audio shows (and don’t worry, they’re going to stay that way) but we’ll add video elements to most of them. At the very least you’ll be able to see Dvorak’s, Steve’s, Amber’s, Megan’s, Cammy’s, Paul’s, Dick’s, Andy’s, Alex’s, Scott’s, and Merlin’s shining faces via Skype video.
Whenever possible we’ll get our contributers into the studio for the shows, too. I think we’ll be able to do live in-studio versions of TWiT and MacBreak Weekly at least once a month.
People tell me that some of the most interesting stuff happens in-between shows. I hope you caught Scott Bourne’s fascinating impromptu tour of his bird photos after MacBreak Weekly last week. That’s the kind of thing we’re going to do a lot more of. When something extra interesting happens I’ll capture it and put it out as downloadable high-quality video. We’ll be creating a new netcast of these Best of TWiT Live pieces later this month. It will be available on iTunes, Apple TV, Miro, and Stickam.
Meanwhile, I better go pay some bills, as Gerry Todd says. Thanks for your support, and a special thanks to the numerous TWiT donors who are making this possible. We couldn’t do it without you!
Swag
