This post describes how to download videos directly from youTube as 480×360 MP4 files. The quality is visibly better than the .flv files offered on youTube, and it’s pretty straightforward. Nice.
I was automatically taken to the new-look Netvibes this morning following a scheduled service outage. And there are some extra bits and pieces from Coriander but nothing on top of the original launch of Ginger (Activities – who’s doing what, Contacts – who’s reading your stuff).
The only change is that Universes are now referred to as public pages e.g. build a page and share it with others. Thank goodness for the rename.
Shameless-plug-of-my-own-stuff alert.
I wrote another article (last one here) for mad.co.uk and it’s gone live. Titled Why is integrating digital into the agency so awkward? it discusses some of the problems that agencies face when trying to ‘go digital’ and how they might be solved or avoided.
Worth a look for the awful photo if nothing else. Enjoy.
‘Digital fiction’ from Penguin. Six short stories told online only, using interesting storytelling methods, including one that uses google maps. Haven’t had time to fully explore yet but looks pretty cool. And Penguin is such a lovely looking brand.
[youtube EoZmBjaFWto]
Another piece of visual evidence to support that truism – everything just looks more cool in slowmo. The digirati in the studio have had this one on their desktopa for weeks, but it occurred to me how amazing that camera / phone manufactures haven’t latched onto this. How many hi-end phones / camera / camcorders can capture stuff at ridiculous frame rates? Answers please, as i’d like to buy one so I can make my own series of ephemera screen savers.
Similar to other media players but an AIR application. It’s pretty quick to pull in the data and the interface seems okay at first glance. Can the market place support another player or is this just another ‘AIR is super’ demo (albeit a pretty meaty one)?
Download and install if you fancy a play.
Interesting interaction study with robots from New Scientist:
People prefer robots that do small talk
I’m sure this applies to interaction design in general – that it’s not so important how long a task takes, as long as some kind of response is immediate so that the user doesn’t feel they’re being ignored altogether.
How many elements can you name? http://www.sporcle.com/games/elements.php
(Edit) I got 27 out of 114, and gave up with 3 minutes left…