Amber Mac

I just spent a brisk 24 hours in Winnipeg, Manitoba, speaking to a small group of CBC's (Canada's national public broadcaster) radio folk about radio stations kicking butt and setting trends in the web space.  While researching radio on the Internet (outside the world of podcasting) I stumbled upon some great examples of innovation in the radio world.  Probably my fave find is KCRW, love their new media player.

*Create your own channel
*Embed content on blogs, websites
*Watch in-studio performances (select shows only)
*Direct links to buy content from authors or artists

The player is still in Beta (like all web apps), but it has a lot of promise.

Let me know if where you're listening (or watching) radio online (if so, post some links).  Have a great weekend ;-).  -A

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (7)

Microsoft FINALLY buys Yahoo!
Originally uploaded by The Core-Man.

Corey from Port Richey, FL just sent me this pic, which he mocked up tonight.  Nice work!

Check out this insightful article re: Microsoft, Yahoo!, and Google.

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (9)

OK, there has been a lot of snow in Toronto this winter.  I know, I know, it is Canada, but the white fluffy stuff is getting a little extreme.  For other snowed-in folks with a few minutes to spare, check out this CBC video snow spoof (I gotta hand it to CBC, they are putting out some innovative, informative, and entertaining content on TV that is making the rounds online - also, it's always fun to watch news people making fun of, well, news people).

UPDATE:  With all due respect to my former colleagues, this article here is hilarious.  Unfortunately, what a lot of viewers don't realize is that the powers that be in newsrooms actually tell reporters to act like this (so, so silly).  The writing is on the wall, or in this report.  Sensational local news reporting is not what viewers want.  Time to put down the snow folks, let loose and do a few donuts in the parking lot (OK, that was me last night). 

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (17)

Just wanted to say a quick congrats to the commandN team!  Our two-and-a-half-year-old video podcast won the Best Podcaster Award for 2007 (CBC Radio 3, which we all love, came 2nd and Galacticast also made the winning list).  Our most recent ep, posted here, is typical for a cN shoot -  bad weather, back alley, and lots of geeking out.  Enjoy!

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (20)

OK, I know that y'all hated the naked photos of Robert and Shel.  Now I'm forcing you to look at naked bums.  It is a pure coincidence that my last two posts involve nudity, must be something in the cold Canadian air. 

I was doing some web navigation research and came across this site (long story how I got to Toto toilets in the first place).  Although these happy (clean) bums and faces could be annoying time and time again, I do really like the innovative way that Washlet uses Flash video and multiple hosts to guide toilet-loving users through its site. 

If you've seen any other interesting site navigation that breaks traditional web design standards, post a comment here.  Am off to watch The Daily Show, so good to have it back (perhaps it's my late-night posting that is leading to nudity >:-).

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (15)

OK, I've been known to go off on rants on net@nite about female bloggers posting half-naked pics online (you can find your own links :).  Well, now the boys are getting in on the action.

Pictured here is the Scobelizer (famous tech blogger Robert Scoble) and Shel Israel (tech consultant/author).  This photo is from a Techcrunch party in honour of a book they launched some time ago.

Now they're teaming up again under Fast Company's new online video network, headed by Scoble.

I have met both Scoble and Shel, with their shirts on, and can't wait to watch this FC network grow, as there are too few good tech/business video shows online.

I wish analyst/blogger Bob Lefsetz would do a weekly video show (shirt on), I could listen to that guy rant and rave about the music industry for hours on end.  His emails are classic.

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (14)

As for why Canadians still don't have the iPhone, here's the lastest buzz on the street from a reporter at The Globe & Mail

There is really only one telco large enough to sell the iPhone

—Rogers Wireless, the only large Canadian provider that uses the GSM

iPhone in Canada, Rogers has yet to offer it.

The reason, as I’ve mentioned earlier, is that Canadians seem to be

willing to pay the world’s highest prices for data subscriptions, in

which it is loath to do.

I don’t know what the numbers are, but I’m assuming that Rogers

hasn’t yet signed on for the iPhone for another reason — there’s no

competition.

Read full article here.

Also, the comments make for good reading...especially this one...

If there is anything less dark murky and obscurantist it's telecom in

Canada. I would like a mobile phone for a number of reasons, ( have you

tried to find a pay phone these days) and I would like many of the

mobile features for computer access. Despite my best efforts i honestly

could not decipher the actual costs, air time and downloads.  I couldn't. As I feel I am already being robbed blind for TV and land line phone, I guess I will simply wait in vain.  The

Canadian business model has been monopolies since the fur trade and

CPR. You would be a fool to hope the we will ever see a change.

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (21)

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (8)

I spent Sunday night with a team of 30+ bloggers on a CBC-TV quiz show called Test the Nation.  We, the bloggers, were pitted against five other teams - chefs, celebrity look-a-likes, taxi drivers, flight crews, and backpackers.

After two hours of answering a total of 60 question about the 21st Century, our team won the competition.  Aside from sweet victory, the best part of the night was hanging out with other web-minded people (a loud and vocal bunch I might add).

Some folks have emailed to ask my score, and I will reveal it as soon as I find out (if it's good of course!).  There are lots of entertaining pics up on Flickr, so check 'em out here.   

Here I am above with fellow Canadian lady blogger Miss604.  Of course the highlight of my night was when "Austin Powers" asked me to "shag behind the curtains" and when Borat penciled in my blog as a must-visit later that eve.  Ah, just another Sunday night in Toronto!

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (10)

My timing re: Macworld was bad this year, missed it by a day (so sad, hope Leo will forgive me!?).  I did have a productive week in San Francisco on the Tony Robbins project, etc., also got some pics done for my website (my good friends at Arktyp are working on an ambermac.com redesign to spruce 'er up and give me a friendly online home for some more regular video). 

Stay tuned! 

P.S.  If you live in Canada, tune into CBC Sunday night at 8pm EST.  I'll be joining a team of bloggers on Test the Nation, a new trivia show that aims to find out which group of professionals knows the most about the world.  I hope there are shiny red "That Was Easy" buttons.  For links to all my teammates' blogs, visit mynameiskate.ca.

P.P.S.  A la Dexter treatment, Brian just sent me this video.  It's a joke, but it's freaky!

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (13)