What should I put on my Apple TV?

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I asked my friends over on Twitter what video blogs they are watching on iTunes or AppleTV and which ones they’d recommend I check out and a raft of good ones came back.

tomVS
BBC London News, BBC NEwsnight, BBC Breakfast Takeaway, Reuters breaking news, Cranky geeks, MacBreak weekly, CommandN…BBC Storyfix, BBC Ten O’Clock News, Tiki Bar TV, Ask a Ninja, Webnation. I work for the BBC, OK? And the podcast trial ends in May!

Roodscreen
Video casts= Diggnation, Art History in Just a Minute, Martin Sargent, Onion Network News, the Merlin Show.

AndrewLighten
The NASA video podcast.

garthk
Tiki Bar TV, The Merlin Show, MacBreak, and Media Watch (ABC TV in Oz). Also trying Big Ideas, dotBoom, VideoGrunt, and others.

BaghdadBrian
Galacticast, Alive in Baghdad, i could tell you what shows i watch, but i dont watch them on itunes…

mrtopf
tikibar, xolo.tv, rocketboom, Josh Leo sometimes, Verdi [ED note: I couldn’t find this one], Screencasts online, merlin show, Steve Garfield.

bluetex
Ask a Ninja. I look forward to killing you soon! Rocketboom.

kosso
yes, and GETV and Cranky Geeks. John C Dvorak makes me chuckle a lot. And Irina rules!

Polyfaux
I subscribe to TikiBar TV that it for video podcast.

Loudmouthman
Vidpodcasts are Hak5, DLTV, GBTV, 1up, CrankyGeeks, MerlinMann, SciFi and ITIdiots just repeating myself sorry.

coolChickLA
Conscious Media Network

mblair
Quicktips for Designers is a handy video blog: http://www.rookiedesigner.c…

monkeyleader
diggnation, cranky geeks, bbc, gamespot, dltv, command.h, national geo, tikibar, MTV, WoW, rocketboom, oh yer and scobleshow 🙂

I got tired there at the end of Googleing URLs for these, please do post your own video show and let us all know!

If we find new ones, we’ll get the best on the Vloggie Show too.

Oh, and the reason I want all of these is to compare Apple TV with a Windows Media Center to see if I can see any difference when displayed on my HDTV. I doubt it, based on my first tests, but want to be a little more scientific about it before reporting my findings.

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

58 thoughts on “What should I put on my Apple TV?”

  1. Pingback: Scoble’s Apple Tv · Bakkel dot com

  12. My show is Fearless Cooking, you can subscribe to me at iTunes. I try to overcome my and my fans fears in the kitchen.

    I also really like wreckandsalvage.com and Mark Day at markdaycomedy.blip.com, funniest shouty ranting Scottish comedian ever.

    Like

  13. My show is Fearless Cooking, you can subscribe to me at iTunes. I try to overcome my and my fans fears in the kitchen.

    I also really like wreckandsalvage.com and Mark Day at markdaycomedy.blip.com, funniest shouty ranting Scottish comedian ever.

    Like

  14. I know a guy who used his Apple TV to make a Car-puter. The specs are perfect for it. I don’t know if the thing is actually fit to watch TV on though. I need something that can dim the lights too. Have you ever heard of Life|Ware from exceptional innovation? I would suggest going over to Tvtonic.com and then looking through the feeds they have there Scoble. They have you on there and a decent amount to choose from. I would say engadget but I noticed you didn’t mention them.

    Like

  15. I know a guy who used his Apple TV to make a Car-puter. The specs are perfect for it. I don’t know if the thing is actually fit to watch TV on though. I need something that can dim the lights too. Have you ever heard of Life|Ware from exceptional innovation? I would suggest going over to Tvtonic.com and then looking through the feeds they have there Scoble. They have you on there and a decent amount to choose from. I would say engadget but I noticed you didn’t mention them.

    Like

  18. Below are the video podcasts I watch:

    Cranky Geeks, Diggnation, DL.tv, Geekbrief.tv, Hak5, InDigital, IT Idiots, PaulDotCom Security Weekly (Audio and Video), TeXtra, The Merlin Show, The Tech Teachers Vidcast and Webnation.

    Like

  19. Below are the video podcasts I watch:

    Cranky Geeks, Diggnation, DL.tv, Geekbrief.tv, Hak5, InDigital, IT Idiots, PaulDotCom Security Weekly (Audio and Video), TeXtra, The Merlin Show, The Tech Teachers Vidcast and Webnation.

    Like

  20. In the Attic, with Pete Townsend

    it Rocks.

    In the episodes Pete and Rachel go to concerts,
    and play acoustic sets with the acts backstage.

    Discovering new bands and great songs with this.

    Like

  21. In the Attic, with Pete Townsend

    it Rocks.

    In the episodes Pete and Rachel go to concerts,
    and play acoustic sets with the acts backstage.

    Discovering new bands and great songs with this.

    Like

  22. If you like food (and who doesn’t?) I would suggest you check out:

    http://www.forkyou.tv

    The fact that I am a co-host/co-creator has nothing to do with this suggestion. 😉

    I don’t have an Apple TV yet… I would be curious to know what it looks like displayed on your giant TV.

    Like

  23. If you like food (and who doesn’t?) I would suggest you check out:

    http://www.forkyou.tv

    The fact that I am a co-host/co-creator has nothing to do with this suggestion. 😉

    I don’t have an Apple TV yet… I would be curious to know what it looks like displayed on your giant TV.

    Like

  29. I’m surprised no one seems to have mentioned the TED Talks. Here’s the website: http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/ — but you can grab it from the podcast directory on iTunes. These are some of the best, most enlightening talks that I’ve seen – and are completely worth your time. There’s a time limit on the talks that folks can give so they don’t go too long and while I haven’t seen all of them yet (still working on it) every single presentation so far has been funny, smart and sobering all in one. The presenters include some of the best, brightest and most creative people the world over. Ok, now i’m sounding like an advertisement – but seriously I hope you’ll give them a watch…

    Like

  31. I’m surprised no one seems to have mentioned the TED Talks. Here’s the website: http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/ — but you can grab it from the podcast directory on iTunes. These are some of the best, most enlightening talks that I’ve seen – and are completely worth your time. There’s a time limit on the talks that folks can give so they don’t go too long and while I haven’t seen all of them yet (still working on it) every single presentation so far has been funny, smart and sobering all in one. The presenters include some of the best, brightest and most creative people the world over. Ok, now i’m sounding like an advertisement – but seriously I hope you’ll give them a watch…

    Like

  34. All this rot, and yet they cancel The Black Donnellys and The Wedding Bells…sigh. Well, Cranky is good, should be on a cable network.

    Like

  35. All this rot, and yet they cancel The Black Donnellys and The Wedding Bells…sigh. Well, Cranky is good, should be on a cable network.

    Like

  36. Always up for some blatant self promotion….

    My weekly video podcast ScreenCastsOnline ( http://www.screencastsonline.com ) teaches you all about the mac and related software. The free show plays OK on the Apple TV but….

    I’ve been producing a 720p HD version of the show since October 2005! It’s available to ScreenCastsOnline Extra! members ( http://www.screencastsonline.com/extra ) and there are over 70 HD shows ready and waiting for immediate download via iTunes.

    Blatant Self promotion over 🙂

    Like

  37. Always up for some blatant self promotion….

    My weekly video podcast ScreenCastsOnline ( http://www.screencastsonline.com ) teaches you all about the mac and related software. The free show plays OK on the Apple TV but….

    I’ve been producing a 720p HD version of the show since October 2005! It’s available to ScreenCastsOnline Extra! members ( http://www.screencastsonline.com/extra ) and there are over 70 HD shows ready and waiting for immediate download via iTunes.

    Blatant Self promotion over 🙂

    Like

  38. Pingback: Blogs, podcasts, and viewcasts « Musings from George

  39. PS – The softmods are gonna make AppleTV worth something, just like XBMC did for Xbox 1.

    Like

  40. PS – The softmods are gonna make AppleTV worth something, just like XBMC did for Xbox 1.

    Like

  41. Pingback: The videocasts I subscribe to « Robitaille’s Blog

  48. I did a quick check of the following shows via an AppleTV with a 45″ Sharp Aquos LCD Display. I set the Apple TV resolution to 1080i. I sat 10 feet away. I like to watch news and podcasts so my tolerance level is much higher than the average person who likes to watch beautiful high action movies. Here are my initial thoughts about what I watched:

    BBC London News: a little fuzzy but acceptable quality for news, does not fit full screen

    Democracy Now!: too fuzzy and not quite acceptable quality, does not fit full screen

    Diggnation (large quicktime): great quality, fits full screen!

    Dr Who: too fuzzy and not acceptable quality, does not fit full screen

    ForkYou!: great quality, does not fit full screen (square)

    GETV: great quality, does not fit full screen but does have the right aspect ratio

    HAK5: good quality, does not fit full screen (square)

    Scobleshow: pretty good quality (high motion outdoor shots were rough), fits full screen!

    TED: great quality, fits full screen!

    TikiBarTV: great quality, fits full screen!

    Wild Chronicles: ok quality (high motion was rough), almost fits full screen, right aspect

    Cult of UHF: good quality (the red saturation and bad chroma was artsy, right?) … the quality seemed better during movie itself, did not fit screen (square)

    We are pretty close here. I think we need to increase the bitrates and standardize the sizes and aspects so that the viewing experience is uniform. Diggnation, TED, and TikiBar TV got it right for their content type. Scobleshow is close.

    It is great so see this content on AppleTV. Keep up the fantastic work.

    Like

  49. I did a quick check of the following shows via an AppleTV with a 45″ Sharp Aquos LCD Display. I set the Apple TV resolution to 1080i. I sat 10 feet away. I like to watch news and podcasts so my tolerance level is much higher than the average person who likes to watch beautiful high action movies. Here are my initial thoughts about what I watched:

    BBC London News: a little fuzzy but acceptable quality for news, does not fit full screen

    Democracy Now!: too fuzzy and not quite acceptable quality, does not fit full screen

    Diggnation (large quicktime): great quality, fits full screen!

    Dr Who: too fuzzy and not acceptable quality, does not fit full screen

    ForkYou!: great quality, does not fit full screen (square)

    GETV: great quality, does not fit full screen but does have the right aspect ratio

    HAK5: good quality, does not fit full screen (square)

    Scobleshow: pretty good quality (high motion outdoor shots were rough), fits full screen!

    TED: great quality, fits full screen!

    TikiBarTV: great quality, fits full screen!

    Wild Chronicles: ok quality (high motion was rough), almost fits full screen, right aspect

    Cult of UHF: good quality (the red saturation and bad chroma was artsy, right?) … the quality seemed better during movie itself, did not fit screen (square)

    We are pretty close here. I think we need to increase the bitrates and standardize the sizes and aspects so that the viewing experience is uniform. Diggnation, TED, and TikiBar TV got it right for their content type. Scobleshow is close.

    It is great so see this content on AppleTV. Keep up the fantastic work.

    Like

  50. Hehe Gotta keep up the crappy old UHF quality bad screen effects and cheesy props somehow Erik 🙂

    Has anyone tried Galacticast yet? Thats one of my faves as well.

    Like

  51. Hehe Gotta keep up the crappy old UHF quality bad screen effects and cheesy props somehow Erik 🙂

    Has anyone tried Galacticast yet? Thats one of my faves as well.

    Like

  54. I’m currently trying to find good new videocasts as well, so ended up checking out each and every show you mentioned here. I had two comments, based on what I found:

    1) I was really surprised by how many of these shows have stopped production, yet are still being recommended by your friends; seriously, there’s at least half a dozen shows on this list that haven’t had a new episode produced in months and months and months. I wonder if this says something about videocasting as a whole — that even these shows’ fans sometimes don’t notice that the show itself has effectively been canceled. If their fans don’t even notice that the show’s off the air, how good could that show really have been?

    And 2), you realize of course that if you removed all the tech shows from your list, there’d be something like two shows left? This is another big problem with videocasting, in my opinion, is that the VAST majority of shows currently being produced have something or other to do with the tech industry — bad news for people like me, who don’t want to spend hours each week watching pasty overweight nerds mumble on and on about Microsoft certifications or whatever. It’d be nice to see more videocasts that are devoted to subjects besides tech news and horrifically bad sketch comedy; won’t someone out there make more of them?!

    Like

  55. I’m currently trying to find good new videocasts as well, so ended up checking out each and every show you mentioned here. I had two comments, based on what I found:

    1) I was really surprised by how many of these shows have stopped production, yet are still being recommended by your friends; seriously, there’s at least half a dozen shows on this list that haven’t had a new episode produced in months and months and months. I wonder if this says something about videocasting as a whole — that even these shows’ fans sometimes don’t notice that the show itself has effectively been canceled. If their fans don’t even notice that the show’s off the air, how good could that show really have been?

    And 2), you realize of course that if you removed all the tech shows from your list, there’d be something like two shows left? This is another big problem with videocasting, in my opinion, is that the VAST majority of shows currently being produced have something or other to do with the tech industry — bad news for people like me, who don’t want to spend hours each week watching pasty overweight nerds mumble on and on about Microsoft certifications or whatever. It’d be nice to see more videocasts that are devoted to subjects besides tech news and horrifically bad sketch comedy; won’t someone out there make more of them?!

    Like

  56. The new HD content on Nat Geo’s pretty good (I’m not in the US so the washingtonpost one doesn’t appeal)
    Comedy-wise I thought TMOUS (The Ministry Of Unknown Science) had some good moments but I don’t think The Chaser’s War and Rove would work outside of Aus/NZ. Still, why not give them a go?

    McD

    Like

  57. The new HD content on Nat Geo’s pretty good (I’m not in the US so the washingtonpost one doesn’t appeal)
    Comedy-wise I thought TMOUS (The Ministry Of Unknown Science) had some good moments but I don’t think The Chaser’s War and Rove would work outside of Aus/NZ. Still, why not give them a go?

    McD

    Like

  58. Pingback: 郑治·传媒边缘 » IPTV在中国还能走多远(links for 2007-04-12)

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