Monty’s Afterword

Read all abou the Strida 5 folding bike at Wired.com.

We’ve got a new blogger on our site (from our very own marketing department), blogging on the techniques of search optimizing your videos. Online video is growing exponentially and now is the time to learn a few tricks to get web visitors to your videos. So, with out further ado, here’s the new SEO for Video blog. Go there and you will be rewarded.

Enjoy!

A bit of good Tech news arrives from Kodak a few days after the logical time to release this news (um… PMA?), but what’s the difference. Kodak’s engineers have designed a CMOS sensor with reverse polarity on the silicon wafer, which basically improves the sensors signal-to-noise ratio on several levels. This means improved low-light performance and improved vertical smearing. As of right now this new technology seems to be focus on mobile phones and other small devices. No word whether or not this new type of CMOS sensor will find it’s way to the video world.

You can read the full press release on the Imaging Resource website here.

There’s no real big surprises here with the latest trends moving towards Internet versus traditional TV sets. What seems to be most exciting is that the research shows that 21% of all visitors going to a network’s website were to watch a specific show. That means 1 out of every 5 visitors enjoys their shows via the web– that’s a good deal of eyeballs on the computer screen watching TV content. Read more on NewTeeVee blog here.

Here’s a pic of me at CES 2008.

Not bad, eh? More on me later.

This year’s CES was distorted by Gizmodo’s Punk’d prank that I refuse to link to. They’ve got enough web traffic for their efforts as it is. I’m not going on a rant about journalism practices or viral video or yada-yada-yada. Instead, I’d like to remind people that we’ve all been there before, but perhaps Gizmodo has struck a new chord– the rise of adolescent technology. Let’s face it. Someone has got to play the role. And, they’re not the only ones screaming for attention, needing affirmation from the peers, and in the process trying to find their self-identity. Case in point, Sony’s Rolly. What the heck was that?!

Hey, look at me. I roll around and play music. I’m crazy. I’m different. I’m cool. Right?

Everybody is looking to find their place on the show room floor. That’s CES. Big stakes. Big risks. Nasty spills. But you don’t really know CES until you’ve done it my way.

The day before my journey to CES I had to see the doctor about a swollen jaw. I turned out to be a swollen lymph node. I was prescribed generic antibiotics and steroids. The pharmacist consulted me on the steroids saying that it would make me feel a little off. “Wait. Off? What do you mean off, cause I’m heading to CES,” I said. I had to think about this. I didn’t want to go on some sort of roid rage at CES. You know it can happen, even without the roids.

“Oh. No. You’ll get a sense of euphoria.”

I thought about that for a second. Euphoria–that actually sounded good. And it was. I spent CES legally doped-up on steroids and generously claimed to be the only journalist on performance enhancing drugs. Although, it was clear to me that my performance was not at all enhanced. In fact, at an evening press event I clumsily fell into a PR’s lap and started chatting away like we were BFFs in the most embarrassing of ways. I know, it’s hard to imagine. But, it’s amazing how quickly we can make fools of ourselves when we forget who we are, either by way of prescribed performance enhancing drugs or the temptation of prescribed viral video.

One thing is for sure– there is no cure for stupidity. So long as their is a stage big enough, stupidity will continue to breed. What will be next year’s Rolly? If anything, CES ‘08 taught me that there is an audience for adolescent technology. What happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas. It’s gossip fodder and totally punishable– just like any good junior high prank.

Yes! I might just become an owner of an LG HDTV in 2008. Truth be told my Netflix mailing discipline is pathetic. I’m all for the “instantaneous” nature of downloads. Netflix already offers a download service that I can’t access because I own a Mac. I just hope the LG HDTV sets are affordable and will ship in moderate size (20-32 inch).

Only time will tell. Read more at the Market Watch blog. Here’s the LG press release.

I like video games. I like Nintendo Wii. My bro-in-law has one. Most of you know about the Wii already, so I won’t go into how cool the technology is and how much I like the design. But, I do want to share this cool hack that I found via Hack a Day blog.

So… You know I teased online dating not too long ago. Nothing against it of course. I like the whole show me a pic conversation. When do you start that? And, what does it say about you if you withhold a pic from an online solicitor? There is always a level of fear and vanity in online dating pictures. In such an environment, there is also the opportunity for a business transaction. Enter PickWash.com. Like a carwash, PickWash is a full-service clean-up facility for your pics. And about the same price, too. For $7, You can upload your photo and have PicWash’s photo editing experts do the following:

* Reduce facial shine
* Remove acne and other skin blemishes
* Even skin tone and optimize complexion
* Add glow to the eye while eliminating red-eye
* Whiten teeth
* Reduce Wrinkles
* Tweak the overall luminosity and color of the picture

Hey that’s a good deal if you’re going to flaunt yourself online or prep a picture for a Christmas card. Or if you printing out a picture to adorn the fridge. Or you got your mug shot on a blog…

Anyhow, I thought I’d share this little gem with you just in case you’re thinking of a last minute Christmas gift. No seriously, there’s a gift card for your vain friends and family. What says Merry Christmas better than a gift card to help you’re recipient not look so bad in photos. I can’t think of anything. What I want to know is if you take your photo through twice does it look extra clean?

I think most of us saw this coming sooner or later. The story here is that it’s happening sooner than later. The New York Times reports that the average US home will spend more on cell phone usage than land lines.

As for me, I’m still connected to my land line– DSL is to blame. But, if I had the option, I’d be land line free.

Read the the NY Times article for more on this ground breaking event in the history of electronic communication.