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First Episode of NerdTV Released

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the hope-they-are-ready-for-nerd-traffic dept.

kurosawdust writes "The first ever episode of Robert Cringely's long-awaited NerdTV is now available for download. This episode features Andy Hertzfeld, member of the original Macintosh team who always has a few good stories to tell. Episode 1 is available in MP4 Video (whole episode and smaller-sized snippets) MP3, Ogg, AAC, and good old-fashioned text transcript (for those of you who watch your TV in vi, like God intended). NerdTV is released under the Creative Commons license."

35 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. He seems to dislike WindowsCE by ReformedExCon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    One of his quotes is that he would feel very uneasy riding in an airplane where WindowsCE was controlling the cabin pressure. I realize that he is a diehard anti-Microsoft person, as his long history with Apple and recent history with Open Source suggests, but I wonder if he is taking his gut feeling about the company and judging the technical worth of its products sight unseen.

    I'm no fan of WindowsCE. I think that it has a lot of warts, though these have been smoothed over in recent releases as Microsoft seems to be moving away from "it's just like Windows!" and more towards a real embedded OS. But it's still pretty slow in scheduling ISRs and requires a fair bit of fiddling to get power management working correctly in the drivers. But all-in-all it isn't a bad system. It's not prone to crashes any more than any other embedded system is, and it's much more resistant to crashes than desktop Windows is.

    For something as straightforward as cabin pressure and lights in an airplane, something like WindowsCE is actually pretty easy to implement and use. I, for one, wouldn't worry a bit about it running such systems.

    --
    Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.
    1. Re:He seems to dislike WindowsCE by gowen · · Score: 4, Insightful
      It's not prone to crashes any more than any other embedded system is
      That's just crap. It's about as stable as many other multi-purpose, palm-top OS... but none of those are good enough either.

      If something's keeping me alive, I want something with extremely high-reliability, near hard realtime performance, coded in a language that's as errorproof as possible in language design (Ada, perhaps) and preferably that's been proven bugfree.

      Windows CE is "good enough" for many many tasks. Life critical tasks are not among them.
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    2. Re:He seems to dislike WindowsCE by Cyberax · · Score: 3, Informative

      WinCE is not a hard realtime system. That's quite enough to exclude it from lots of mission-critical applications.

    3. Re:He seems to dislike WindowsCE by metamatic · · Score: 5, Interesting
      --
      Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.

      Why do I need saving from your past?

      --
      GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
  2. Java applet doesn't need a plugin? by l_bratch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Still in development but coming soon is a Mediaframe Open Source Java applet player, which will play NerdTV video right in your browser without any plug-ins.

    Incredible how that works - I usually need to use a Java plugin to view Java applets in my browser.

  3. No Torrent? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I checked the site and couldn't find a .torrent file (at least in an obvious place). This surprised me greatly.

    Nerds (geeks) + Creative Commons = Perfect Opportunity for a Torrent.

    Is there a problem with mainstream adoption of .torrents? It would seem to me that bittorrent should be the FIRST option for distribution of this kind of content.

    I had a similar experience downloading Ubuntu Linux. There was a torrent file available but I had to hunt (briefly) for it. Shouldn't these kind of projects capitalize on the cheap bandwidth for their free content?

    1. Re:No Torrent? by lga · · Score: 5, Informative

      Bob mentioned bittorrent when he talked about NerdTV in July. He explained that people downloading NerdTV via bittorrent would only seed the last one or two episodes, and that he would instead build a distributed network similar to Akamai.

      From the article: "so the real heavy lifting for NerdTV will be done through a network of distributed servers I've created as a kind of "poor man's Akamai." My distribution cost using this system, by the way, works out to be approximately ONE PERCENT of Akamai's retail price, which shows how much profit there is in that business, or should be."

      --
      A latent existence
    2. Re:No Torrent? by whathappenedtomonday · · Score: 4, Insightful
      "poor man's Akamai."

      ...is giving me 6.7kbyte/s..no, 5.4...no...5.1 and falling.

      people...would only seed the last one or two episodes

      huh?! he could seed the missing files himself or only offer older episodes as direct download. nerds...

      --
      I hope I didn't brain my damage.
    3. Re:No Torrent? by kwark · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Silly me was just thinking that a bunch of PBS owned seeds distributed over the net would lower their upload costs and speedup anyones download.

      The current "solution" makes sure there are no seeders at all, ever. A brilliant solution for the possibility of no seeders for old stuff.

      The net effect is that the average download is 5kb/s

    4. Re:No Torrent? by nikconwell · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'll create a torrent in 4 days, 6 hours, 24 minutes, 35 seconds.

    5. Re:No Torrent? by ncc74656 · · Score: 2, Informative
      "poor man's Akamai."

      ...is giving me 6.7kbyte/s..no, 5.4...no...5.1 and falling.

      With a download manager pulling in 4 chunks at once, I was getting around 17 kbps a few minutes ago. I switched to the torrent someone else posted earlier. It's now maxing out my T1. :-)

      --
      20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
  4. Below expectations by NamShubCMX · · Score: 4, Informative
    The interview is really interesting but I was somewhat disappointed by the "TV" part.

    It could really well be NerdRadio, since there is absolutely nothing happening on the screen but that guy's lips moving.
    For +1h.

    Save your bandwidth and get the Ogg audio version.

    --
    We've always been at war with Eurasia.
    1. Re:Below expectations by sinserve · · Score: 2, Funny

      It could really well be NerdRadio, since there is absolutely nothing happening on the screen but that guy's lips moving.
      For +1h.

      Not true! At 00:34:02 - 00:34:18 he scratches his arm.

  5. watch your TV in vi, like God intended by smittyoneeach · · Score: 5, Funny

    I feel your research into the topic of editor theology may be incomplete.

    --
    Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
  6. Good for PBS! by Ph33r+th3+g(O)at · · Score: 3, Insightful

    For not requiring streaming of the show in a DRM format. It's exactly what taxpayer and donor subsidized entities should be doing. NPR, take note.

    --
    I too have felt the cold finger of injustice.
  7. Re:maybe it will... by FudRucker · · Score: 2, Informative

    it started out downloading at a good pace, as it continued it slowed to almost a crawl, i canceled it...

    i will check back in a few days

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  8. Autobots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Episode 1 is available in MP4 Video

    Heh. I can only imagine what the MPAA's autobots are making out of that comment...

    1. Re:Autobots by Quarters · · Score: 4, Funny

      The Autobots are the good guys. The MPAA would employ Decepticons.

  9. Interactive TV by martalli · · Score: 5, Funny
    A little correction for the original poster. vi is interactive TV. If you just want to watch TV, I suggest less.

    Bryan
    "less is more, but less is better"

    --
    Building a healthy future; Connecting communities
  10. I would LOVE it if Bill G and Balls-mer took off by crovira · · Score: 2, Funny

    in a plane controlled by Windows.

    I wouldn't have to worry about them, ever again...

    --
    MSBPodcast.com The opinions expressed here are my own. If you don't like 'em... Think up your own stuff.
  11. IPTV on old school TV by phildog · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've been watching more and more IPTV stuff these days--Rocketboom, NerdTV, systm, homestarrunner, etc. Can anyone recommend a good dedicated piece of hardware for watching IPTV stuff on a real TV?

    Bonus points if HDTV support is baked in.

    But the biggest factor is it has to pass the "wife test". The UI should be simple and intuitive.

    Does such a product exist? The Pinnacle Showcenter 200 and D-Link Wireless Media player sound close, but I worry about the usability factor.

    From what I've heard XBMC is a great solution, but I want something I can actually buy online or in a store somewhere. I'm more into hacking software than hardware these days.

    Thanks!

    --
    slashsearch.org - slashdot search. powered by google.
    1. Re:IPTV on old school TV by hackstraw · · Score: 3, Informative

      Can anyone recommend a good dedicated piece of hardware for watching IPTV stuff on a real TV?

      Bonus points if HDTV support is baked in.

      Recipe:

      1 Apple PowerBook/mini or other product with DVI outputs
      1 HDTV with DVI inputs
      1 DVI cable

      Optionally garnish with a bluetooth mouse and keyboard.

      Enjoy!

  12. Bill the used car salesman by SamSeaborn · · Score: 5, Insightful
    he would feel very uneasy riding in an airplane where WindowsCE was controlling the cabin pressure. [...] I wonder if he is taking his gut feeling about the company and judging the technical worth of its products sight unseen.

    A used car salesman has sold you problematic cars for the past 20 years, and he says he finally has a good car to sell you. Are you going to examine the car for "technical worth" or are you going to let your previous experiences with that salesman influence your buying decision?

    Sam

  13. There is a torrent... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Here is the torrent... unfortunately there are no seeds at the moment though.
    Found here, the link seems to be hidden by default.

  14. Where is the podcast? by wscott · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I just was to subscribe to the audio portion of the show so I don't miss any future shows. How can this really be nerdy without a podcast?

    1. Re:Where is the podcast? by LarsG · · Score: 2

      The expression 'podcast' is trendy, but the functionality is nerdy.

      --
      If J.K.R wrote Windows: Puteulanus fenestra mortalis!
  15. Power Management vs. Cabin Pressure by itomato · · Score: 2, Funny

    If a device requires a "fair bit of fiddling" to do what it is supposed to do, it is not the device I want in control of life-sustaining services on a flying coffin.

    Jesus or any of Vishnu's other avatars can save you from a lot. But WinCE on a JumboJet?!

  16. TORRENT by fabs64 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the official torrent.
    No seeds as yet, hopefully the /. crowd will quickly change that ;-)

    1. Re:TORRENT by Ingenium13 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The torrent link is dead now. Why would they remove a link to a torrent file that is saving them bandwidth??

  17. Meedio by tacokill · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well, I can't recommend a self contained unit because I have yet to find one that meets my needs. Nothing seems to play ALL the stuff I have and most importantly, many of the solutions out there are difficult to use or have significant limitations. I can, however, recommend a piece of software that can be "hacked" to make it whatever you want.

    My network setup is simple. I have a server on my network that holds (4) categories of media. Pictures, movies (SVCD, DiVX, XViD, etc), TV shows (same as movies), and Music collection (mp3). I also play the occasional internet radio station. I wanted ONE box next to my TV that allows me to play all of the above through my home theatre, thus freeing me from burning DVD's to play on my Philips 642.

    So anyway, I decided to use a standard computer with S-video out and digital audio out. Both video and audio go directly into my home theatre receiver. The HTPC computer is controlled by a $29 streamzap remote control. Now the trick to this whole deal is finding an interface that I can use with a remote (this is the wife test!). I don't want to use a mouse or keyboard at all. (sidenote: have you ever tried to use windows using nothing more than a remote? good luck.)

    After, literally, 6 months of searching, I accidentally found this. I am not associated with these guys in any way shape or form but I can say that their software is pretty slick. Basically, it's a Tivo-like frontend that you can customize A LOT. There are plug-ins to do all kinds of things, like weather and news. And best of all, it's designed for use with a remote so you don't need a mouse or keyboard at all. So after about 4 hours of customizing, I have it setup to do the following:

    - everyday (at 4am), it goes out to my shared media folders and imports any new items in those folders into the Meedio library. Movies, TV shows, pictures, and music. Note: it only imports new items since the last import. And for movies, I have many movies that are (2) files. Meedio will combine the two files into one entry, which is nice.

    - for movies, it goes out and auto-downloads cover art and IMDB info

    - everyday, it downloads weather info (including animated radar)

    - everyday, it downloads the Streamcast radio stations and organizes them by genre and bitrate

    - While I don't have it setup, you can also install a TV module and make it a PVR. I have TiVo so I didn't need this functionality. But it's there if you want it.


    The net result is that I have ALL of my stuff integrated into Meedio. So when I run Meedio, I can play ANY of my media on my network shares. And Meedio will use the codecs installed on the local machine so playback is not an issue. Since everything I want to play is inside the Meedio library (which updates everyday, per above), I haven't needed to burn a DVD or transfer a file since I installed it.

    All in all, it's a pretty cool setup and I don't forsee needing to change it for quite sometime. I have yet to find a "glitch" with it except that some of the navigation within Meedio is counter-intuitive. But fixing that is as simple as editing an xml-based config file. And this shouldn't be a problem for anyone who is a power-user or better.

  18. God? by Jules+Labrie · · Score: 2, Funny
    for those of you who watch your TV in vi, like God intended

    Please don't blaspheme RMS !!!

  19. EMACS by rhetland · · Score: 2, Funny

    I use *EMACS* to watch my TV, like god actually intended.

  20. Dear Andy by NubKnacker · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dear Andy, Please let us know when you get sued by the **AA. Thanks.

  21. Re:Mirror? by jaredmauch · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes, folks should feel free to use this (fast host, and i've survivded slashdotting before, easily). Mirror of mp4: Nerd TV MP4 Episode 1

  22. REAL OFFICIAL Torrents available by brainsik · · Score: 3, Informative

    We just put up the *real* torrents. The other nerdtv.net torrent file was never intended for public consumption.

    Use these:

    http://www.pbs.org/hplink/redir/http://nerdtv.net/ video/NTV001/ntv001.mp4.torrent
    http://www.pbs.org/hplink/redir/http://nerdtv.net/ video/NTV001/NTV001.m4a.torrent
    http://www.pbs.org/hplink/redir/http://nerdtv.net/ video/NTV001/ntvjuicy001.mp4.torrent
    http://www.pbs.org/hplink/redir/http://nerdtv.net/ video/NTV001/ntvnerdy001.mp4.torrent
    http://www.pbs.org/hplink/redir/http://nerdtv.net/ video/NTV001/NTV001.ogg.torrent
    http://www.pbs.org/hplink/redir/http://nerdtv.net/ video/NTV001/NTV001.mp3.torrent