Time for a tangent ...
Back in July the BBC launched the iPlayer, a piece of software that would allow you to download and view programmes from the last seven days.
There were two problems: the player was only available for Windows, shutting out anyone with a Mac or Linux and a lot of people (myself included) are put off these days by having to install yet another client to watch/listen to locked content - most of the major channels seem to have their own versions of these things (e.g. Sky, Channel4), yet we're supposed to moving into a Video on Demand world in which we can watch anything at any time through our set top boxes.
Today, the BBC has launched a new version of the iPlayer. This time it's online. No downloads (apart from upgrading Flash if you still have an old version) - the videos just play in your web browser, like YouTube. This is great for me as I often find myself forgetting about things I meant to watch until shortly after they have ended.
OK, so it's nowhere near HD quality, but its good enough. If you have a web-enabled gaming console, you might even be able to get the service working through that, onto your TV, rather than watching on a monitor.
Content is only available if you live in the UK, but if you meet that criteria give it a go - I just discovered a show I'd never heard of before, The History of the World Backwards. Only the final episode is still available, so we're at the end (beginning) of history, featuring a henge design review meeting and talk of the hunting of a pre(post)-historic car wash. I'll now be watching out for earlier episodes when they are repeated.
Right, I'm off to watch last week's Top Gear...
Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Saturday, October 06, 2007
At The Drive In
I don't like to watch much crap TV (my wife might disagree here), but weekend mornings are great for channel surfing. This morning, after catching the end of Robot Wars, and discussing the feasibility of the plot of Xena Warrior Princess I noticed a film with the title Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women.
Who could resist?
OK, I'll admit it, the film was laughable - but a chuckle is never a bad thing is it? Here is a brief synopsis:
What made the film for me was the fact that it had been completely unaltered from its 1968 drive-in début: it still contained the intermission adverts, telling me what I should do in case I accidentally turned off the radio, and trying to convince me to walk over to the snack stand where I could buy 'the best burger in town' and a soft drink that would remind me of the 'freshness of winter'.
After the main feature it just got better - more 1960's advertising, followed by Fish From Hell - a 1940's documentary charting life on the sea, where killing anything that moves is what its all about. The Fish From Hell in question are Manta Rays ('devil fish' which eat their own weight in fish every day thus robbing dinner tables everywhere of food, the cads) and Swordfish (600lb beasts of the ocean which hunt and kill poor defenceless whales, the curs). Most terrifying however was the giant Octopus - this 'elephant-spider of the ocean floor' with it's 'slimy, death-dealing, double-side suckered tentacles' is 'BEHIND YOU MAN! GET OUT OF THERE!'
Who could resist?
OK, I'll admit it, the film was laughable - but a chuckle is never a bad thing is it? Here is a brief synopsis:
In 1998 a manned-mission is sent to Venus. A meteor hits the spaceship and everyone dies. Oh well.
A second mission is sent. This one crash lands on Venus, stranding two astronauts and 'Robot John' (a robot called John who everyone calls Robot John so we don't get too attached to his strangely-dexterous, but sadly hydrophobic ways).
A third mission is sent to rescue the men from certain space-suit rash. This one lands without problem, but where are the rescue-ees?
In a journey across the planet to find the stranded crew members, the rescuers (in their submersible space-car) encounter the scantily clad creatures of the title. Being aliens, the titular gals communicate by telepathy and can summon storms, fire and volcanic eruptions with a little group-thought. Being prehistoric, they worship a pterodactyl.
The Earthmen kill the pterodactyl, garnering the wrath of the Venusians. After the humans escape all attempts on their lives, the aliens realise that Earth's technology is stronger than their prehistoric God ever was and we leave them prostrating themselves in front of their new idol - a broken-down and seared-by-hot-magma Robot John.
A second mission is sent. This one crash lands on Venus, stranding two astronauts and 'Robot John' (a robot called John who everyone calls Robot John so we don't get too attached to his strangely-dexterous, but sadly hydrophobic ways).
A third mission is sent to rescue the men from certain space-suit rash. This one lands without problem, but where are the rescue-ees?
In a journey across the planet to find the stranded crew members, the rescuers (in their submersible space-car) encounter the scantily clad creatures of the title. Being aliens, the titular gals communicate by telepathy and can summon storms, fire and volcanic eruptions with a little group-thought. Being prehistoric, they worship a pterodactyl.
The Earthmen kill the pterodactyl, garnering the wrath of the Venusians. After the humans escape all attempts on their lives, the aliens realise that Earth's technology is stronger than their prehistoric God ever was and we leave them prostrating themselves in front of their new idol - a broken-down and seared-by-hot-magma Robot John.
What made the film for me was the fact that it had been completely unaltered from its 1968 drive-in début: it still contained the intermission adverts, telling me what I should do in case I accidentally turned off the radio, and trying to convince me to walk over to the snack stand where I could buy 'the best burger in town' and a soft drink that would remind me of the 'freshness of winter'.
After the main feature it just got better - more 1960's advertising, followed by Fish From Hell - a 1940's documentary charting life on the sea, where killing anything that moves is what its all about. The Fish From Hell in question are Manta Rays ('devil fish' which eat their own weight in fish every day thus robbing dinner tables everywhere of food, the cads) and Swordfish (600lb beasts of the ocean which hunt and kill poor defenceless whales, the curs). Most terrifying however was the giant Octopus - this 'elephant-spider of the ocean floor' with it's 'slimy, death-dealing, double-side suckered tentacles' is 'BEHIND YOU MAN! GET OUT OF THERE!'
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Doctor Who - The (Robotic) Companion
The last couple of posts have both included only Doctor Who baddies. This is because there weren't really many series good guys at the exhibition.
This is probably unsurprising - they tend to be played by real people (and I doubt David Tennant would be willing to stand still at the exhibition for eight hours a day), whereas the baddies are generally large alien costumes (which might have people in them in the shows, but exist on their own after the cameras are switched off).
There was one 'good guy' there though - K9 - the Doctor's faithful robotic companion.
This is probably unsurprising - they tend to be played by real people (and I doubt David Tennant would be willing to stand still at the exhibition for eight hours a day), whereas the baddies are generally large alien costumes (which might have people in them in the shows, but exist on their own after the cameras are switched off).
There was one 'good guy' there though - K9 - the Doctor's faithful robotic companion.
Nikon 12-24mm at 12mm, 1/60sec, f/11, flash
Monday, June 18, 2007
Doctor Who - The Bad Guys
Yesterday I posted my first picture from the previously mentioned Doctor Who Exhibition at Land's End.
I'm not one hundred percent sure why there would be a Doctor Who exhibition at Land's End, but due to the rain (and the fact that Doctor Who is just plain great) we decided to take a look.
It doesn't take long to wander around - and there is a bit of a gap towards the end, where they are obviously waiting for some Series 3 paraphernalia to arrive - but it's good fun none-the-less. You can get really close to the exhibits, and although probably against the rules you can even touch things like a Slitheen and the Cyberman.
Below are some of the baddies the Doctor has encountered - a Clockwork Droid (from The Girl in the Fireplace), a Cyberman and a better view of the Dalek from my last post.
I'm not one hundred percent sure why there would be a Doctor Who exhibition at Land's End, but due to the rain (and the fact that Doctor Who is just plain great) we decided to take a look.
It doesn't take long to wander around - and there is a bit of a gap towards the end, where they are obviously waiting for some Series 3 paraphernalia to arrive - but it's good fun none-the-less. You can get really close to the exhibits, and although probably against the rules you can even touch things like a Slitheen and the Cyberman.
Below are some of the baddies the Doctor has encountered - a Clockwork Droid (from The Girl in the Fireplace), a Cyberman and a better view of the Dalek from my last post.
Nikon 12-24mm
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Do Not Touch The Dalek
I don't think this photo really needs an explanation - hopefully everyone knows what a Dalek is and shouldn't need the warning.
Nikon 12-24mm at 24mm, 1/60sec, f/11, flash
Friday, April 27, 2007
Neighbours: Officially Bonkers
I used to watch Neighbours every day - school was only two minutes walk from my house so me and a group of friends used to go back to mine during lunch and catch up on the latest happenings in Ramsey Street and Summer Bay.
Leaving school also meant leaving behind soaps almost completely.
This week however, while not in Sweden, I've been working at home and managed to catch both Tuesdays and today's Neighbours instalments. On Tuesday I learnt that Karl had a pet rooster, called Springsteen, which he was in the process of trying to hypnotise into not crowing. Today Susan discovered lice in Karl's beard and traced them back to Springsteen ... the cock had to go.
If you're near a TV at 5:40 this evening, I honestly encourage you to watch today's episode - when Karl is whimpering over loosing his feathered friend he actually says 'but we shared so many memories' and there follows a short montage of all their special moments - including the time he sang to his buddy in the garden and the extra special moment they had sharing crisps from the same dish while watching TV. It really is one of the most hilarious pieces of television I have seen in a long time.
Leaving school also meant leaving behind soaps almost completely.
This week however, while not in Sweden, I've been working at home and managed to catch both Tuesdays and today's Neighbours instalments. On Tuesday I learnt that Karl had a pet rooster, called Springsteen, which he was in the process of trying to hypnotise into not crowing. Today Susan discovered lice in Karl's beard and traced them back to Springsteen ... the cock had to go.
If you're near a TV at 5:40 this evening, I honestly encourage you to watch today's episode - when Karl is whimpering over loosing his feathered friend he actually says 'but we shared so many memories' and there follows a short montage of all their special moments - including the time he sang to his buddy in the garden and the extra special moment they had sharing crisps from the same dish while watching TV. It really is one of the most hilarious pieces of television I have seen in a long time.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
PC vs Mac
I'm a PC owner - always have been and probably (never say never right?) always will be. Just been watching the PC vs Mac ads though and they are fairly amusing. The PC guy even looks like Bill Gates. Anyway, if you've not seen them I recommend a view. There's but a load here.
edit: I had to remove the embedded video - it was causing IE7 to crash when accessing the blog! You can see this yourself if you have IE7 at my test blog here.
edit: I had to remove the embedded video - it was causing IE7 to crash when accessing the blog! You can see this yourself if you have IE7 at my test blog here.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Barbie's Dog
This is hilarious... I'm sitting at home listening to Bloc Party, with some Wacky Races on silent on Boomerang and a book in my hand (as you do).
I look up after finishing a paragraph and what do I see? The adverts are on and there seems to be a plastic dog going for a shit on the screen in front of me!
Yes, Barbie now has a dog. It's called Tanner and you can feed it dog biscuits, wait for it to 'go to the bathroom', then do the responsible thing and clean up after it. Brilliant. What will they think of next? There's one thing right there I hope never to be asked for by any daughter of mine.
Bugger. Now I've gone and missed the end of Wacky Races. Wonder who won?
I look up after finishing a paragraph and what do I see? The adverts are on and there seems to be a plastic dog going for a shit on the screen in front of me!
Yes, Barbie now has a dog. It's called Tanner and you can feed it dog biscuits, wait for it to 'go to the bathroom', then do the responsible thing and clean up after it. Brilliant. What will they think of next? There's one thing right there I hope never to be asked for by any daughter of mine.
Bugger. Now I've gone and missed the end of Wacky Races. Wonder who won?
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Improvements and DVD Menus
Just been watching the second season of Spooks. If you're thinking of watching this too, I'm gonna have to recommend you download it instead of buying it on DVD. Don't get me wrong, its a great show - I wish I'd gotten into it four five seasons ago when it started!
The reason I'm suggesting something illegal is the hardship. This DVD box-set doesn't give the worst set of screens, notices and menus I've had to navigate (that accolade goes to Prison Break), but the quantity and length of studio ads, piracy warnings (in five languages!) and badly designed menus you have to go through, just to watch your own DVDs is ridiculous. At least in the days of video you could fast-forward, but not any more because they disable that function while they're telling you what a naughty thing piracy is. How can they not realise that one of the key benefits of a download is that you don't have to watch this crap for five minutes before you can start enjoying the show?
Enough ranting.
If you're a regular visitor, you'll notice some improvements today:
The reason I'm suggesting something illegal is the hardship. This DVD box-set doesn't give the worst set of screens, notices and menus I've had to navigate (that accolade goes to Prison Break), but the quantity and length of studio ads, piracy warnings (in five languages!) and badly designed menus you have to go through, just to watch your own DVDs is ridiculous. At least in the days of video you could fast-forward, but not any more because they disable that function while they're telling you what a naughty thing piracy is. How can they not realise that one of the key benefits of a download is that you don't have to watch this crap for five minutes before you can start enjoying the show?
Enough ranting.
If you're a regular visitor, you'll notice some improvements today:
- The Reading and Listening To sections on the left have been merged and now there's an expandable section for the text against all but the newest entries to keep the size down. The javascript for this was stolen wholesale from the VideoLAN home page. Sorry :-)
- Clicking on a picture now brings up a cool image container instead of just navigating away to a separate page with just the image on it. For this I'm using Slimbox, which is great!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)