Archive of thenextweb.com
Written on 8th June 2009
30 COMMENTS 
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Channel 4 is set to become the first major UK broadcaster to offer their entire archive of television programs online completely for free.
Channel4.com relaunched on 1st April 2009 with their 4oD TV Catch-up service as its primary selling point. From July however, all this will change and PC, Mac and Linux users will be able to watch Channel 4’s complete programming history on Channel4.com.
Frankly, I’m not only impressed Channel4 has decided to make the move but I’m genuinely excited. Shows like Queer as Folk, Trigger Happy TV, Drop the Dead Donkey and more will be a couple of mouse clicks away – a danger to productivity levels but a convenience all the same.
Jon Gisby, who was made Channel 4’s Director of Future Media & Technology in 2007, said:
“We were the first broadcaster to launch a comprehensive video-on-demand service in 2006 and since that time 4oD has become one of the UK’s most popular VOD brands. The addition of archived content to 4oD on channel4.com means we will be the only UK broadcaster to have all of our content available online. We are extremely proud of the new and improved service and think the combination of fantastic content that’s easy to find and view will prove a compelling service for all users.”
Similar to Joost, Channel 4 has taken the decision to close its 4oD desktop application once all the archived content is available via Channel4.com.
For you non-Brits out there, unfortunately there aren’t any plans to offer the service internationally just yet.
Written on 20th February 2009
9 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
I stumbled upon an intruiging application today called F.lux, for OS X and Windows. After downloading and installing, which took seconds I might add, I was presented with a field to insert either my zip code (no use to me being based in the UK) or my latitude. After inserting my latitude coordinates (search for your city here), my Mac’s display lighting adjusted according to the time of day, being night – it was a halogen light effect.
Although, I’m not certain I’ll actively use the app, it’s definitely an interesting idea. Although I’ve seen other attempts at adjusting computer settings based on time of day, none have adjusted display lighting. I look forward to seeing whether f.lux develops further…
Written on 23rd December 2008
3 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Looking for some humor during the work day? Try following MACvPC, a Twitter account based on the famous Mac ads in which a typical cool dude (representing an Apple) makes fun of a sloppy corporate guy (a PC). Those chats are now continuing on Twitter.
Here’s the Twitter account bio:
Hi, I’m Mac. I’m cool, fun, easy, and I voted for Obama. Hello, I am PC. I am hard working, always on the job, and I voted for McPalin.
According to their Twitter location, Mac and PC are currently enrolled in a “12 Step Dueling Personality Issues Program”. They have enough time to chat though, considering the large amounts of funny updates. Like this one:
MACvPC only has 329 followers now – but believe me, it will be a HIT! Especially since the people behind the account makes the effort of replying to almost everybody. Who doesn’t want to hear a joke based on your own remark?
Written on 5th October 2008
5 COMMENTS
Steven Carrol, Next Web WebTipr France
Following on from Patrick’s wish for a specific tool to edit the theme of Wordpress blogs, I want to introduce a company that I would love to use and have been drooling over but can’t because it is PC only and I am strictly a Mac man. However, they do solve a very real problem that I am constantly grappling with, they make money, and they could make a ton more if they designed a Wordpress plug in that solved Patrick’s problem and pain.
To edit a website’s design is currently a real hassle, as a developer you have to constantly fath about in a sort of trial and error mode, adjusting one color or parameter at a time. Of course once you change one, that changes everything so you often end up going around in circles for hours until you no longer know whether you’re coming or going (in my case it’s mostly the latter).
Styling is a very time consuming task which generally causes many arguments and frustrations between developers as they try to attain a unique, fresh and interesting look for their projects. With a product like Stylizer this pain is alleviated and the cream works in minutes. One can control the styles in a live fashion seeing how they change the overall look while simply turning knobs and watching the changes take place before your eyes.
As a nuts and bolts developer I personally struggle tremendously with creating a fresh clean look for my own projects. Only after attempting to create graphics yourself do you really gain respect for graphic designers. Earlier in my design carrier I have been constantly disappointed with graphic designers thinking they overcharge, are slow, produce substandard work, etc. In many cases it is often true and one area where I struggled to find a outstanding professional artist. Though I did eventually it is clear to me they are few and far between.
What is now also clear to me is how frustrating and difficult this task really is, I am certainly in the market and will pay good money for an elegant solution to this personal pain, hint, hint, Stylizer Mac version please!!! It is also a little odd that there is not a Mac version of this software (unless there is by someone else and I dont know of it?) given all graphic designers I have ever worked with only ever used Macs.
So if your in the same boat, struggling with creating a shit hot look and feel for your own sites and you use PCs, give Stylizer a shot and let me know if this software is really as good as it looks! Do also do let me know if there something out there similar for the hardened Mac users.
P.S. This article was written by a human not a machine and following on from last weeks huge outcry about the automatic article generating software, we at The Next Web have pledged never to use such software, but the question remains! are the top blogs actually using it? As many sources I have spoken to still think they are :).
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