Ok, that’s just freaky… I was thinking of ideas for some sort of video podcast and thought “I’ll need to rig something up to tape myself” and literally 10-15 minutes later my rss feed pops up a new episode of geekbrief.

and there’s the quik pod. altho, I was thinking more of a subtle body harness that also could tape an interviewee too… heh

I love your Vidcast but one thing I think you should change especially on the large format is to use 720 x 480 resolution instead of 640 x 480 because when I watch it on my iMac widescreen I get bars on the side and top and bottom because of the way you format the video. Since you already shoot in widesrceen you should format the video in a widescreen resolution. Otherwise it looks great!! Also, wow that Sanyo HD cam video looked sweet!!

Tom in Chicago

GBUK ?

Not sure we need it. Gadgets are universal right ?

Also are you really saying we’d only watch if it was presented by a beautiful girl ? Maybe it’s time to shake things up and challenge the misconception that it’s the only way for a tech show to succeed.

My two pence, from the UK.

Ed - the UK version will be a weekly recap of things covered on GB, and it’s primarily being created for the British Telecom/PodShow relationship. It will, hopefully appropriately - replace American slang with English slang.

One of the most successful tech shows is Diggnation. I think you have a point - there was a better way I could have explained the challenge we’re facing.

This girl will be heading up the British Division of the Geek Intelligence Agency, and the way she looks is only relevant as much as it’s relevant when they’re looking for a new James Bond.

Did anyone else’s download seem soft (focus) today or was it me?

Now that I’ve asked, let’s get to the actual content. Cool stuff and I want to run out and get one of each. Woo!

Cali and Neil
This one was amazing!! Mostly I like the show because of Cali and a bit for the gadgets… but this one I actually like because I want to buy everything shown on the show!!!

By the way… about Splenda.. when I googled it (being a Dutchy from Amsterdam) I found lots of sites opposing the product, claiming it’s unhealthy and even causes cancer.. We can’t get it and try it, but these sites did prevent me from trying it for fun. Now I’m not that gullable, but it does seem a bit awkward for podshow plugging such a controversial product … Or is this just a skewed view I’m having now? Do you have any comment on that?

Anyway, lots and lots of love from Amsterdam, Netherlands and the assignment of the month is: eat the next five cookies you have with coffee from above! So no conventional side eating, but scrape with you teeth from above … btw: does not work well with pie. ;-) Cheers!!

Just a few random comments:

Visually, the encode qlty of ep.85 wasn’t great. Like someone previously mentioned, it was fuzzy… I’m guessing Neil knows how to use a focus ring so I assume the soft picture is due to poor bit-rate choice rather than bad camera technique.

BY FAR, the best looking episode I’ve seen is ep.84. The image was sharp with vibrant colors and a warmth unusual for a podcast. I’m assuming Cali and Co. took extra care filming/encoding that episode because it was a paid product ad. I’d appreciate if future episodes could be delivered with similar production quality.

Oh and regarding comments about paid product ads, I don’t have any issues with them. But I do think you need to do a better job distinguishing between normal shows and poduct placements. Simply closing with a “this episode was sponsored by HP” is not enough, and actually, it’s kinda misleading. When I hear the words “sponsored by”, to me this means the advertiser is just buying eye balls. The sponsor may or may not know the exact content of the particular episode they’re sponsoring. He’s just buying eye balls (i.e. loyal viewers). The show’s content itself was selected independant of a specific advertiser. I hope ALL your future episodes are “sponsored by” somebody because I want you guys to eat more than Roman noodles!

But a “paid product commercial” (i.e. and infomercial) is something else entirely and the viewers should be made aware of this UPFRONT in clear language.

oh… and your infomercial was quite effective. now i want a HP NAS :(

Luv U Guys!
-e

@sneaker peet
all artificial sugars have negatives that always present themselves. I remember aspertame(Equal) was at one point a cancer causing agent, but then not… so who knows.

I have pretty much come to the conclusion I’ll die of potato cancer :)

I gotta say, love that hd digital camera. I think I could see nose hairs :) . If only geekbrief could be shot in that format.

I’m guessing more sponsorship and Ramen noodles may help with that, but I’m hoping you get more of the former. You can only eat so many Ramen noodles.

Yeah, I think it’s absolutely skewed. It comes from people who think anything altered by science is detremental. We’ve used Splenda since it came out, which wasn’t that long ago. It’s absolutely not been out long enough to assume it could cause cancer. It’s ridiculous for those people to say a NEW product causes cancer. I’m willing to bet the people who say that, are just plain anti-innovation.

Sorry, I’m ranting now! :)

I, for one, am supportive of the UK brief for the sole reason that it will be a condensed version of things covered through the week. I don’t always have the time to catch up with the brief so having a weekly summary would be a great option for me.

On the other hand keeping you as a presenter would probably be more cost efficient for you, and it will also help spread your Cali-isms to more Brits. They’re charming, witty and I can’t imagine the geekbrief formula being improved through recruiting a British equivalent.

I’m guessing BT Podshow are pushing for a British-accented host to ease English viewers into the Brief though.

Jason - You don’t even know….we’re going to do a cooking segment to show how we make the Creamy Chicken stuff…it’s a very, very, very good thing! Maybe not healthy, though…

Is that the first time Neal’s picture was on the video feed? I thought I would never see the day.

P.S. Yeah Studio 60!

Pierre, that’s true, but it’s more about allowing us to expand our love for British culture.

Cali,
No excuses for the rant nesisary. It makes things extra clear ;-)
The thing I noticed: most of the counter sweetner folks make irratic and unfounded assumptions about some of the properties of some of the base components. As far as I could find there’s no research, just inuendo.
Anyway, can’t wait until it’s available in the supermarket in Amsterdam and put it in my own Senseo™. :-D
BTW: I think the embedded advertisement works great. Endorsements of a presenter is just very compelling and convinsing. As long you keep it subtile that is. So no over acting and totally scripted segments around a product. People will notice a product, you just need to make it look good and make sure everybody knows where to find more info. The only ‘dangers’ I see as a podcaster that you couple your name with a product that might fail. I felt Adam Curry started our quitte cool when he started collecting complaints of a endorsed product. I think it even got bounced from the show :-)

Want to hear Neal’s American Idol audition?
Check out http://7stories.net/archives/16
to hear a cameo with Neal and Cali and hear Neal as you have never heard him.

Hey Cali if you can’t find a girl that is English learn to do the Accent.

Have you though of instead of having a full blown UK version of GBUK, maybe have guest spots or reports from accross the pod! It would be totally cool!