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The <Video> Tag
Brendan Eich, the Canada-loving technical leader of the Mozilla project, has written a piece on The Open Web and Its Adversaries and given a presentation on The Open Web. In addition to a general overview of what it means to have an open web, the post mentions work that Opera and Mozilla are doing with the WHAT working group to create new HTML tags for <audio> and <video>.
The basic idea (still in the early stages, I gather), is to create <audio> and <video> tags that would allow audio/video playback in the browsers without relying on a proprietary plugin (like Flash, in the case of YouTube). Browsers implementing the tags would be able to use any video format, but all browsers would support a base format of Ogg Theora and Ogg Vorbis.
Theora and Vorbis video and audio compression formats that are free, open-source, and unencumbered by patents. I’ve written before about the importance open formats for media.
If Firefox and Opera were able to leverage their combined corner of the market share and force Microsoft to implement such a setup in Internet Explorer (or if they did so eagerly on their own), it would be a great step forward for media on the web.
Best wall-hanging map ever (from this post)
Remove Customization
The new like-myspace-but-more-hip website Virb has a feature worth noting. Like many sites where you can create a page about yourself, you can do all kinds of visual customization to your page. On the same place (notably) on each page, though, there is a “remove customization” link. Clicking this link shows you the page using the default layout, fonts, colors, and overall style.
It’s an interesting idea to allow people to customize their pages to be as beautiful or ugly and as readable or obscure as they like. Then, give the visitor – the reader – the choice between seeing how the creator wants you to see the page and the plain original format.
I have the vague sense that there is a profound conclusion to be drawn about this, but it escapes me.
The Encouraging Near Future of Music
A post on the CBC Radio 3 weblog reminded me of a wave of albums by great artists coming out in the next few months.
- The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible (this week)
- Fountains of Wayne – Traffic and Weather (April 3)
- Joel Plaskett – Ashtray Rock (April 17)
- Rufus Wainwright – Release The Stars (May 15)
- New Pornographers (August)
- The Weakerthans (October)
- Gordie Sampson (fall)
Oh, and isn’t Chinese Democracy supposed to be out again this year?
We live in exciting times.
My Reality TV Show Pitch: Jump the Shark
I had an idea for a reality TV show this week. It’s called Jump the Shark. Contestants have to jump over a shark.
Acts of Volition Radio: Session 27
The first Acts of Volition Radio session of 2007. Warning: some of these songs might make you cry.
A few pairs of great songs. Recorded Wednesday, February 5, 2007 by Steven Garrity. Run time: 45min.
Session Twenty Seven Playlist:
- The Delgados – Keep On Breathing
- Mike Knott – Tattoo
- FAIR – Cut Down Sideways
- Stereophonics – Rewind
- José González – Heartbeats
- Jeremy Enigk – World Waits
- Matt Mays – Mornin’ Sun
For more, see the previous Acts of Volition Radio sessions or subscribe to the Acts of Volition Radio RSS feed.
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Superbowl Sunday Sermon Suggestions
- The Real Superbowl Holds the Blood of Jesus!
- Jesus is My Quarterback
- Jesus is My Coach
- Jesus is My MVP
- Jesus is My Half-Back
- Hail the real Mary
- The Quarterback Sneak (into heaven)
- Which End Zone are You Running For?
- The Star of Our Half-Time Show: The real Prince
- Bears, Colts, and Cloven Hooves
- Peyton Manning: False Messiah
Christmas Package Tracking
Package Contents: Christmas gifts for my entire family
Package Status: In transit
Current Package Location: UPS shipping facility, Lachine, Quebec (a little under 1,000 kilometers from my house)
Scheduled Delivery: December 28
Bah: Humbug
Ian Williams on the state of the NBA