Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

New domains are always exciting, and if you can remember the most recent major one (.me) you will remember the vast amounts of money are usually spent as people bid for the best of the selection.  However .tel will not involve vast amounts of money or even much media coverage, because it is something different and a new way of looking at domain names.

These domains will not be about websites, but more of a way of sharing the information of the domain owner, and will not involve any building, hosting or managing.  They are effectively domains that tell you all about the domain owner, such as their business, their address and their phone number: a bit like an online contact card.  Keep reading after the break.

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Sections: Web

It is no secret that Blockbuster has been playing catch up with Netflix for the past few years.  Now, as Netflix has been offering streaming for the Roku for quite some time and HD streaming on newer Blu-Ray players and the Xbox 360, Blockbuster wants in.  Blockbuster quietly released its own set-top box for instant movie watching this past week.  However, instead of taking the Netflix route giving unlimited movies with a monthly fee, Blockbuster is taking a cue from Apple and the tv by charging $1.99 for every movie.

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Let’s say for whatever reason, you need some cash and have some iPods you are hoarding in case the economy crashes and they are used as currency.  As an economist (in my free time) I can tell you that day isn’t coming - at least the part about using iPods as currency - and it is time to get rid of them.  One easy way: NextWorth.

Find out how by clicking to follow the story.

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Sections: Audio, Portable Audio, Web, Websites

So, you’ve found and purchased the camera that is just perfect for you. (If you haven’t, check out The Gadgetell guide to finding a camera)  You’ve been been playing with it, experimenting with it, and taking a ton of shots. Now what?  Well, there are quite a few options if you want your work seen or even sold.

There are lots of places on the ‘net that allow you to post your photography work.  Of course, there is the well known flickr, which seems to be used by everybody and their brother to post everything from little Johnny’s 4th birthday party to girls showing off their ass-ets, to some photos that really do have photographic merit.  But, if you are looking to have your work seen and critiqued by other photographers, you may want to look into some other sites as well. 

Read about all the options you have to get your work seen and even get paid for your photos after the break. 

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Yesterday,  Google let loose their video chat to the masses.  If your account doesn’t have the option yet, Google promises within a day or so you will.  The new option for video is very simple and many users are wondering, how does this differ from other online video services like Skype?

Skype is a full-featured video calling program.  It is easiest to think of Gmail voice and chat as augmenting their instant messaging chat rather than something completely new.  One of the biggest differences is Gmail’s version only allows video chatting with other Gmail users who have downloaded the plug in (about 2MB).  With Skype, users are allowed to contact both online and offline numbers, albeit for a fee.  There is not an option to go offline with Gmail voice and chat.

See what else Gmail voice and video users won’t be doing anytime soon.

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Sections: Communications, Email / IM, Web, Web 2.0, Google

You’ve got to feel bad for YouTube.  After becoming the Internet’s darling for such fun gags, it wants to get a day job.  No longer content with just the clearing house for pranks and short clips, it wants to be in the full length movie business as well as the TV show business. 

YouTube served up this kind of content at one time but was forced to take most of it down over copyright claims.  Now YouTube is working with Hollywood to gain their trust and their content.

But it isn’t an easy road.  Sure YouTube has the traffic, 81 million folks in September but they also have the baggage.  And it’s more than just past indiscretions.

Find out what’s next for YouTube.

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Sections: Video, Content, Web, Websites, Online Music/Video

If you’re a fan of online video, you’ve probably heard of Revision3.  Plenty of people are calling the company “RevisionG4” in light of the recent changes. 

Primer

If you’re unfamiliar with Revision3 here’s a quick primer: The company started as a vehicle to produce podcasts like thebroken, systm, and Diggnation.  Many new shows followed and lots of familiar faces were added to the mix.  Those of us who missed TechTV were comforted with the arrivial of Revision3 along with TWiT.

The shake up

Recently, there have been big changes over at Revision3. Cancellations of shows, distribution deals dropped and personnel changes.

Has Revision3 turned into RevisionG4?  Keep reading.

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Sections: Video, Content, Originals, Web, Web 2.0, Online Music/Video, Features

I came across the chart above thanks to betfair.com.  The chart shows “the most accurate, up-to-the-minute prediction of who will win the U.S. Presidential election based on millions of wagers placed in the world’s largest betting exchange.“  Neat stuff.

But look closer and you see a divergence on September 15th (a Monday).  Something happened on this date that reversed both Obama’s downward trend and McCain’s comeback.

Find out what I theorize this to be and how YouTube has political blood on its hands.

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Sections: Video, Content, Web, Websites, Online Music/Video

Since it is Halloween, Gadgetell is taking a look at some the tech horror stories our writers have experienced.  Here is one tale.

In my house, we usually built our own computers; we had, at most, two computers that were purchased pre-built.  The second computer we built did everything it was supposed to.  It connected to the Internet and could be used to write school reports on.  Not to mention it handled “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” almost perfectly (if you were willing to take away some of the draw distance).
 
The computer had many hours logged into it, the hard drive was maybe three quarters filled.  Oblivion and Civilization IV took care of most of that for me.  My brother used it to go online, and my grandmother used it every hour we weren’t there to play her casino games.  It had served us well. 

That was until the one morning when we awoke to something we were quite used to. . . .

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Broadcast television is taking a backseat to Hulu.com.  “30 Rock” is premiering this Thursday on Hulu, a full week before NBC will air the episode. 

This is not the first time NBC has shown off its television shows online before the television broadcast.  The short-lived “Andy Barker, P.I.“ debuted on NBC.com several weeks before ever appearing on television.  That show didn’t catch on, but this is “30 Rock,“ one of NBC’s bigger properties. 

NBC probably has seen an increase in traffic to both Hulu and NBC.com with the upcoming presidential election and Tina Fey’s spot-on Sarah Palin impression.  Seeing this trend, perhaps NBC actually understands that the online component of television is viable. 

I’m sure some will opt to watch the broadcast in HD over watching on Hulu, but this is a good step for NBC.  Hopefully, other networks will follow suit.

Watch [Hulu.com]

• Blockbuster to offer streaming set-top box
• New .tel domain opens up
• Gadgetell Video Review: Kodak Zi6 HD camcorder

Sections: Video, Web, Web 2.0, Websites, Online Music/Video