Like other leagues, the NHL continues to see a major uptick in video use and is looking for ways to make the most of it with fans and advertisers. Once heralded as the up-and-coming video player for the National Hockey League, the NHL Network Online is being benched today in favor of NHL VideoCenter, a less-cluttered, higher quality, more social contender with expanded content.
VideoCenter was developed with NeuLion, as was the predecessor that launched for the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. The most visible change at first is the environment. The distracting, rotating ad panels are gone in favor of bolder pre-roll or banner ads, leaving more space for the player and a better chance for the advertiser to be noticed. The video window is larger. Sharing was available before but this player includes buttons for Twitter, Digg and Facebook plus the ability to resize the embedded player. A single highlight can be shared or the package.
The question is this: If an application that simulates flatulence is worth 99 cents, is it reasonable to spend the same amount on an app that delivers a full-force, stun-an-elephant dosage of information about one cult actor/director? We’re about to find out: here comes the Kevin Smith app [iTunes link], for everything Kevin Smith and all your Kevin Smith needs.
If you’re thinking “Who is Kevin Smith and why should I care?” you can tune out now; this app isn’t for you. If you quote Chasing Amy, have dressed up as a character from Clerks for Halloween, and voluntarily chose to see Jersey Girl: it’s your lucky day. The $0.99 app includes a custom feed of candid Kevin photos, a single-user Twitter client (!) so you can follow Kevin’s 140-character bon mots, news feeds from Kevin’s site with podcast/media downloads, a “photo with Silent Bob” tool, a Rant soundboard of Kevin quips… even a Kevin ringtone to go with your Kevin wallpaper.
The Navigon Mobile Navigator [iTunes link] has become my favorite GPS app for the car. Great graphics, text-to-speech, auto night mode, and traffic integration.
Today, Navigon dropped the price 30 dollars to U.S. $59.99 and added Google search. That’s a great idea, because the self contained GPS apps have static databases that tend to age quickly. Navigon solved that problem by integrating a Google search to their app, which gives you the advantages of on-board maps coupled with the most up to date POI information.
INTERNET
You are on the internet, seeking entertainment. There is a grue here. Josh Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel are discussing the week in technology news, including the new Dell Vostro V13, the Barnes and Noble Nook, the CrunchPad / Joojoo, and the myth of the Apple Tablet.
It was a sleepy week for a second there — and then everyone started suing each other. Not to worry, Josh, Paul, and Nilay are going to break down the latest in the CrunchPad / Joojoo saga, sort out what Apple and Nokia are up to, and maybe even talk about some actual gadgets on the live podcast. It all goes down at 5PM EST, but the chat below is open now, so settle on in!
Continue reading The Engadget Podcast, live at 5PM EST!
It’s December, and that means list season. Early this morning, Apple released the top sellers from the iTunes stores across several categories. The top music, television shows, movies, audiobooks, podcasts and apps sold in 2009 are displayed on a special page in the store [iTunes link], called “iTunes Rewind 2009.” Here are some highlights.
The top three songs sold were “Boom Boom Pow” by Black Eyed Peas, “Right Round” by Flo Rida and “Poker Face” by Lady GaGa. I’ve never heard the first two, but “Poker Face” is a huge hit with my 6-year-old. It’s nice to see kids music do so well. As for podcasts, I’m very happy to see my beloved Adam Carolla podcast [iTunes link] among the most popular.
National Public Radio has the fourth most popular news app in the iTunes store in the U.S., but now it is taking some of that Appalicious goodness to the mobile browser. Today it launched a new version of its mobile website at http://m.npr.org/ which looks like a stripped down version of the iPhone app but doesn’t require a download.
The redesigned NPR mobile site shows top stories and lets you browse by programs or stations. When you click on the “Listen now” button it starts streaming a podcast via the Quicktime player on the iPhone. You can also add a program to your playlist. And if you want to listen to live radio, you can also search for stations by call letter, city or zip code and then it starts streaming that station.
We’re late, and we’re sorry. You’ve come to expect your podcasts within a vague and yet rigidly-defined four day window, and we betrayed that trust. After all, if you can’t expect to have piping hot discussion of the week in technology news delivered to your inner ear the very week it happens, what can you believe in? Sports superstars? Your government? Please, let’s not be foolish. If you can find it in your heart to forgive us, you’ll find that you’re mere moments from obtaining a particularly inspired podcast for your portable listening device, one that’s full of entertaining guests like Chris Ziegler and Michael Gartenberg harshing on Nokia, and a truly eye-opening examination of new media’s search for a tablet savior. We’d almost say it’s worth the wait, but we wouldn’t want to presume on your valuable patience.
Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
We’ve got a couple special guests joining us live on the Engadget Podcast today: Michael Gartenberg and Chris Ziegler will be on hand to talk about Nokia’s present and future products and strategy. On top of that, we’ve got a ton of tablet talk coming at you — everything from the CrunchPad to the next-generation of magazines. It’s going to be a wild one — we’ll be live around 2:45PM EST, but the chat below is open now, so settle on in!
Continue reading The Engadget Podcast, live at 2:45PM EST!
Sure, there are a variety of ways to get your high-end XLR audio onto your PC, but the solutions we’ve seen before haven’t been cheap. Shure’s dual-purpose mics cost up to $250 and while the Icicle adapter is only $60, it’s a strictly BYO microphone affair. Samson’s $89 Q2U package includes all you’ll need to become a podcasting wunderkind, most important being the mic itself, which comes with both XLR and USB cables. It also features an integrated 3.5mm headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring, includes a set of studio headphones, and even comes with a tripod so that you can wildly gesticulate while expressing your fury about the Dollhouse cancellation — even if your 23 subscribers can’t see you. It’s all available now, so stop popping your P’s and get with the ordering already.
Gallery: Samson Q2U microphone