Media Mediation #2 Renting 2.0

It's bad enough just getting through a movie on television. The amount of ads that consume just one movie adds hours to the task of completing a show. The ads even get closer together and longer towards the end of the movie: Of course when it's too late to stop watching...

The solution to this problem: Netflix

Image: coated.com

In my last post, I discussed how addicted I was to technology. Though I'm sure I exaggerated (I could live without this stuff if I wanted to, and even do once in a while) I've been tuning into Netflix almost once a day. It's just so easy.

Often times when I come home to an empty apartment. I'll turn on the TV to keep me entertained while I'm doing something else such as making dinner. I'll put on Nexflix. If I sit down with the intension of watching a show on TV, chances are, it probably will be Netflix.

It's just so easy. It streams right from my roommate's Xbox 360 in the living room. Surprisingly, it even works fine over our slow WI-FI connection, usually without being interrupted. My favorite things to watch are shows such as Arrested Development, or even Top Gear. Even though the interface doen't allow you to search for episodes, I've been okay with what's usually available regardless.

My television is exemplifying the personal shift to participatory. And all of this is because the internet has revolutionized almost every aspect of technology. At one point, we were forced to accept what was already an extensive amount of content cable TV was providing for us. Now we can actively choose the content. I know it's television, what medium is this anyway? There is no traditional cable television source, no computer, just the Xbox and Wi-Fi.

Netflix always makes me think about trips to the video store when I was younger. It's been forever since I've been to one, not that there are many left. Rather than posting a Netflix commercial, here in an interesting video I found about renting and how useful it can be if the infrastructure was there.



Even though this isn't a completely online service, Rentalic still uses the web to link you with other useful things that you could rent. Renting is a great way to save money and resources instead of purchasing something that you would only use once.

Media Mediation #1: Eat Tweet Love

Image: Foursquare.com

My addiction to technology is getting worse. I've also realized that I am okay with it, well mostly. Except if I forget to charge my phone, then it's going to be a problem.

The worst offender in my life is my Apple iPhone. I have had it for almost a year and a half now and I love everything about it. This device can incorporate video, news, books, email, music, everything on the net and I almost forgot, the phone. Smart phones are literally the definition of convergence, and they will work everywhere you go on a daily basis. Needless to say, I have no trouble occupying myself on the bus ride to class, reading tweets, reading news or listening to music.

There are a few Apps that I use constantly. One of them is called Echophone, it's what I have been using to update and check my Twitter feed. However, I've recently found that I'm getting tired of tweeting. I don't usually use Twitter unless I have something interesting to say, such as an entertaining thought, useful piece of knowledge or something that I believe others would want to know (most of the time). I've recently started using Foursquare, which will post my current location on Twitter.

Twitter already has the current location feature, so why would you want to use a different social networking site to post this? Well, I don't exactly have an answer. Although I am finding that Foursquare is more like a game. You check in to locations to earn badges and mayorships. A mayorship means that you have checked in to this location more than anyone else. Badges are more like fun milestones for certain types of check-ins. Foursquare will share your progress and location on your Twitter or Facebook, whichever you choose.

I just started using Foursquare last week. I've since used it to check into 3 locations and got one badge. The newbie badge. I've added 3 friends who use it, and I don't see that list expanding too much. I don't see myself checking into locations ALL THE TIME, but maybe if I am somewhere interesting, I'll look it up on Foursquare and let it post a tweet. It's interesting how it interacts with Twitter, and even Facebook but I choose not to do this.


It also brings up the issue of privacy, and just being plain creepy. But I choose when to post, so I'm not too concerned. Also if I see a friend has posted they are in a similar location to me. I probably won't be afraid to contact them, as they have decided to publicly share their location.

The Foursquare Police! I thought this was entertaining because what stops people from lying about their location?



I can see Foursquare being very useful if it had an extensive base of users. It would be very interesting to be able to meet up with friends just by seeing that they have checked into the same location as you. However, just like Twitter, I think that people find this social network too intrusive to be adopted my many users.

I don't know how I'm going to use Foursquare in the future. Or if I will continue to use it. I've never tried real time location updates before, but this is going to be my trial run and add to my Twitter Feed.

Today's Serving

Hey, I'm Darin Boutet. I'm originally from Saco, Maine, although I'd like to live in Burlington long enough so that I can say I'm from Vermont. This blog is for MCM 315 Contemporary Media Issues, but lets see where it ends up.

Even though this probably isn't the most fun media experience, it was definitely an experience to say the least. Over the summer I went on two wilderness hiking / camping trips, one in upstate NY and the other in northern Maine. Both were awesome experiences but they were significant to me because I was cut off from any and all media that I have grown so addicted to over the years. Look, I'm on a mountain!




In addition to this, two summers ago a small group of high school friends and I started a foundation to promote healthy living for specifically high school students. The brains behind this group was Luke Neilson, while myself, Evan Moreshead and Amy Mantis worked together to create a video, a website and a basic premise for the group. This summer we created a still frame video with a encouraging message, (don't tell anyone, we have it done, we just haven't released it yet) last summer we made a video to promote ourselves which you can see below. Everything in this video is original. Amy created the music, while I did the camerawork and editing, Luke and Evan managed the production.



I really like working with new technology and learning about new opportunities with technology. Also really like having endless information at my fingertips and the ability to instantly communicate with others at all times. With all these wonderful things that technology can do for us, comes an addiction. I really dislike how addicting technology is and how much in trouble we are in without it.

I can safely say that I don't really know what I want to do with my life. But who does? I'm a broadcasting major here at Champlain and I began with the thought that I'd like to work in television news. I've always had an interest in video, and I am very good using video to tell a story. I'm now keeping my options open, as journalism has been an interest of mine for a while now. For now I'm just going to see where the next two years of college take me.