What is on the small screen?

There is an amazing amount of information, entertainment, and instruction available on the Wide World Web.  Users can view anything from short clips of the current news to full length versions of their favorite movies or TV shows.  The most critical thing needed to enjoy this new frontier is a high speed internet connection. 

First a word of caution:  You are doubtless aware that there are some sights better left unseen!  Hopefully none of the sites we are going to mention here will offend anyone’s sensibilities.  That is certainly not our intention.  These sites are moderated and users can flag as offensive any objectionable material.  For the record, we are, so far, impressed with the material reviewed.

What is playing?

There are many websites featuring videos.  Each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses.  We will tell you a bit about some of the sites we have been impressed with.  When you check these out, please e-mail us and let us hear your input.  Have you found other sites you like better?  Please let us know.

One of the most diverse sites is located at www.hulu.com.  The depth of content here is staggering.  A very great number of complete movies are available free to the viewer here.  There are many television shows and clips from television available too.  The screen in which the video is presented is very intuitive and give the viewer much control over the presentation such as picture pause, full screen, details buttons.  You can even easily e-mail a link to a video to your friends. 

It is possible to subscribe to new content in Hulu and most of the video sites so that you are notified when new episodes are available for viewing.  Registration simply requires you to fill out a form and provide your e-mail address. 

Hulu was founded by Fox and NBC so their lineups are, of course, available.  ABC and CBS are best found at their own sites, www.abc.com and www.cbs.com respectively.  All the sites we mention in this article have their good points but what continues to amaze is how often you are taken to the Hulu library when you click to watch a video on a competing site.  Hulu’s collection is truly deep and wide.

Cable giant Comcast has their own video streaming site, www.fancast.com .  This site has a terrific number of clips and full shows as well as lots of great background information on your favorite shows.  Where else can you find 80 full StarTrek episodes along with great background on each of the actors?  Did you know that Dr. McCoy (Bones) was really Jackson DeForest Kelley who began his entertainment career singing on the radio and at the Fox Theater in his nativeAtlanta.

www.veoh.com deserves a look too.  Like the other sites, Veoh is supported by advertising.  The Veoh site looks more like an advertisement than the others.  The good news for all the sites is that ads in the content is always less than you see on the old standby television set.  The Veho site is one of the easiest to find a television show on.

www.television.aol.com/in2tv  and www.youtube.com are great sites to put videos that you have taken up on the web for friends to see.  You can use either site for free.  After posting your video file you can send a link to your friends so they can enjoy the latest happenings in your part of the world.  Video cameras are ubiquitous now that the prices are so low.  Check out www.theflip.com for the most amazing camera you have ever seen. 

Two other sites great for posting your videos and for social networking are   www.myspace.com and www.facebook.com