freesat UK digital HD service launch today

UK Digital Satellite TV has been around for a couple of years, but today it launches as one integrated system with 7 day programme guide all setup!

The DVR (Digital Video Recorder) option isn't available yet, but TVs from Panasonic are on sale with HD support integrated now! Channels now include BBC HD and soon ITV1 HD. Now just need Channel4 to exit their tie-in with Murdock's BskyB and a couple more channels ;) Use MythTV DVR to share those programmes around the house.

Adam Curtis Documentaries

I've been catching up on older documentary series' by Adam Curtis recently. Saw his Power of Nightmares, and The Trap previously.

Century of Self - concerns consumerism and democracy.

The Mayfair Set - concerns how a group of four men who frequented the Clermont club in London ultimately shaped the climax of the Thatcher years.

Pandora's Box - concerns how governments have utilised technology for their own aims.

iPlayer Linux

The BBC have just launched their "on-demand" internet ready iPlayer beta. It's actually only Microsoft Windows XP compatible though -- no Linux or Mac support! This is essentially the same as if the BBC broadcast in a format incompatible with TVs which weren't manufactured by Panasonic!

Sign the iPlayer Linux petition, and make yourself, the free public heard!

Seemless streaming media solutions?

In a world of innovation, media streaming is an open field awaiting innovation at present. I'd expected Akamai to have capitalised and launched a streaming/p2p media system by now, and no one else is even that close. Kontiki is around, but only thanks to the BBC.

There are the possibilities for the future, Niklas Zennström (the Skype founder) has his internet TV app Joost in the works... but for the moment youTube / Google video is as good as it gets at present.

When will we see something truly revolutionary? I'm sure we will eventually, let's hope it's soon! We can't wait forever ;)

"24" Series 3 -- Episode 7 using Gnome Desktop and Subversion

"24" is a cult programme which tracks the events of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) in LA, USA. Fox (the production company) use the Gnome Desktop (left) for one of their workstations in the programme.

Kim Bauer is also shown using Subversion (below right)
usr/sector/src/svn/trac-all/include/apr.txt [code]

She enters:
unlock file -all [D7238]

Interesting they use Subversion and Gnome. Obviously these are staged to reflect the way these high-tech intelegence services function, it is great they are so accurate, and have not just put up a mock up Windows screen animation ;)