Today’s guest clacker is Scott Tunstall, a freelance writer with a degree in Cinema and Television. If you like obscure and overlooked films, check out his blog.

The terms Ignite, Media Object Server and Airspeed likely mean nothing to the average person. However, if you’ve been employed in the field of Television News Production in the last five years you’re either very familiar with them or will be soon. They are overly fancy monikers given to software based servers that utilize automation to operate. Essentially, they are computers programmed to replace humans. Remember the HAL 9000 in 2001? How about Mother in Alien or Skynet from Terminator? Villainous supercomputers armed with artificial intelligence bent on destroying mankind. Who would construct such tools of devilry? Oh yeah, that would be humans.

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Nullriver

I switched from Microsoft Windows to Mac OS for my primary system a bit over a year ago now, and other than what I have to do for my full-time job, I rarely look back. And because I don’t use Windows anymore, I’ve switched to console-only gaming with my Xbox 360. The thing is, Windows and Xbox work so nicely together, so how was I going to get the same thing using a Mac?

Luckily, I found a kick-ass piece of software that has changed everything: Nullriver’s Connect360.

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YouTube

By now I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about the switch of analog television signals to digital next February. It seems like only yesterday that we heard how we need to prepare for the switch, what we need to do to switch, and why we need to switch. That’s because it was yesterday … and the day before that, and then last year and the year before that.

I actually took advantage of that coupon deal that was going on, taking a chunk of money off an analog-to-digital converter box last year. The thing is, since I have digital cable boxes, I have no bleeding use for it. However, Christmas is coming and I still have the box, so a-wrapping I will go for an early-obtained gift for someone who doesn’t have cable: dear old granny.

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NTIA

Ah, the federal government: So big, so powerful. Yet, in many ways, utterly impotent. And, I can’t fault them for it. They are really trying to help out folks here in America, but their eyes are just too big. It’s like a 6-year-old asking for a 26 scoop sundae and not being able to finish it.

And, before you get all angry and defensive on me, I’m not talking about the financial bailout. No, I’m talking about the Digital TV bailout. Thinking that you have some time to grab one of those coupons to get a free converter box that permits a digital signal on your 19-inch, black-and-white television? If so, then there’s a potential problem. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has told lawmakers that they may run out of money for the $40 converter box coupons before they run out of requests. Uh, anyone up on Capitol Hill hear of the economic policy of Supply and Demand?

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CliqueClack

“Hey honey. What’s on television tonight?”

“Oh, you know, there’s the presidential debate from nine o’clock until the sun rises.”

“What? Again?! Oooouuuuh…”

Has this happened to you? The lack of real, quality TV programming getting you down? Well your worries are over, thanks to a space-aged new technology that will revolutionize the way you enjoy television.

Introducing: The Digital Video Recorder!

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ABC Family

Sure, there are a myriad of reasons I could be singing the praises of ABC Family. After all, they are the channel that brought us The Middleman. I like it so much that this very computer I’m typing on has the hostname Wendy. They’ve also done rather well for themselves with GREEK, which I think has ended up better than anyone imagined it would. And really, where else are you going to go when you need a little Step By Step fix to brighten up an otherwise dreary day?

All of that pales in comparison to their latest little project. They went and hired our old pal Brigitte! Check out the spiffy new site featuring everyone’s favorite video blogger. (According to Brigitte, vlogging sounds nasty, and who are we to argue?) If you were a fan of her previous work, you’ll feel right at home. And if you have yet to take the Brigitte challenge, what the hell? Is your copy of the internet broken? Hop to it, Champ. You’ll be glad you did. Here’s wishing Brigitte, and ABC Family, much success with this latest endeavor. Now, if they would just go ahead with that renewal for The Middleman, I’d tack an exclamation point at the end of that awesome.

engadget.com

I imagine that there might be some of you out there who don’t know what the Slingbox is.  (And by “some of you, I mean, “An Amish guy who is looking at this webpage on a laptop that fell off the back of a truck”.)  It’s okay, I don’t judge: the Slingbox is a wonderful little device that takes whatever is on your tv and “slings” it to your laptop via the internet.  It’s one of those pieces of technology that feels like it can’t possibly deliver what it promises — yeah, right, I’m sure it’ll only work if I’m plugged directly into a backbone router and no one else is using the internet that day — but that actually works in the real world on a regular basis.

For people that travel, the Slingbox is a must-have.  All I need to do is connect to a hotel’s WiFi and the entire contents of my TiVo are there for me to look at.  As an added bonus, whenever I start using it, my wife is convinced that a ghost suddenly decided to watch PTI, which makes for some hilarious panicked phone calls.

Since the unveiling of the iPhone app store, there has been rumors that the good people over at slingmedia would be releasing software that allows for use of the Slingbox for your iPhone.  In fact, engadget.com had an article back in June that said that there’s a “proof of concept” for the software that is up and running.  Well, it’s been three months … where the hell is my Slingbox for the iPhone?

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