The Flip camera is a video camera with a “flip-out” USB port that allows you to plug it directly into your computer without a cable. It is available inexpensively, at a price point of around $200 as opposed to the expected $1200 for a digital video camera in the past.

This brings the realm of the video blog into everyone’s reach. Mr. Thompkins runs through the technology and software needed to work with a Mac; it is easily adaptable to a PC simply by just changing the software package to something like Podesk which is tailor-made to produce video blogs and video podcasts.

CBC shows have been taking advantage of this video format and have been posting their own short web videos; check out the following links to get the feel.

Spark – How To Make A Radio Show
The host of “Spark” and co-staff produced this how-to video.
http://www.danmisener.com/archives/334

R3TV (Radio 3 TV)
http://blip.tv/file/258335/
This contains some fun stuff, a music video, and interesting commentary in the manner of an internet video rather than a sleekly produced TV Show.

ZeD:
http://zed.cbc.ca/go?c=ZedCandidHomepage
While cancelled, the videos on this page try to keep the feel of an amateur internet video and give you the general idea of what is possible.

In essence, you plug an iPod into the gadget and hit Record. It has a built-in mic, but also comes with 1/4″ and XLR jacks (!) for pro-audio needs. The device also has gain controls, a low-pass filter, and a built-in compressor/limiter. It records in uncompressed WAV file format.

Here’s what the main control panel looks like.

It will be available in the U.S. in June for $100 and is compatible with the 5G iPod video as well as the 3G nano.

I don’t know what any of this means, but it’s COOL. I want it in my house.

So… er, what exactly does all this mean?

– Tod

The new foreign-affairs program On The Map has used it a couple of times and CBC producer Christian Weller says the video quality is “as good as satellite” when used over the CBC’s dedicated Internet channels.

Still, there are bugs. The Skype-dedicated computer sits in a rack at CBC Toronto and “every time someone walks by the rack, it jiggles the mouse and Skype’s little Transport Window pops up on the screen.” And during their first Skype interview (with a documentary producer in Gaza) it went great. Too bad the technicians were so distracted by the success of the feed that they forgot to hit Record.

“There are so many different shows at the CBC that don’t have any money,” Weller says. “They can’t afford to pay for a full [satellite] video feed. This is so much better than doing a phone interview and just showing a photo of the guest.”

Christian says he’s more than happy to talk to other shows and show how they can use it too. Look him up in Groupwise.

In today’s edition of Todbits:

• NPR to launch news show aimed at younger listeners
• An audio mixing board for your iPod?!
• Neilson introduces the 27-hour ratings day
• BBC facing nearly $4 billion funding gap
• No merger for Sirius and XM
• …and will Jim Shaw’s temper tantrum kill the CTF?

NPR to launch news show aimed at younger listeners

NPR, whose Morning Edition newsmagazine is the top-rated morning radio program in the U.S. with 13 million listeners weekly, will launch a new morning news and information service aimed at adults 25 to 44. Starting in March, the concept will be introduced publicly through a digital media “open piloting” process NPR recently launched to test-drive show and segment ideas and solicit listener feedback.

An audio mixing board for your… iPod?!

A new device called TuneStudio puts a four-track mixer with two XLR inputs around your iPod and lets you record to the built-in CD-quality (16-bit, 44.1 kHz) WAV recorder. It will also interface via USB to your computer, and includes a hardware compressor. It should be out in the summer for $180 USD.

BBC facing nearly $4 billion funding gap

BBC director general Mark Thomson said Thursday that the BBC faces a £2 billion ($3.9 billion) funding gap over the next six years under the long-awaited license fee settlement announced by the British government. The BBC says it is “too soon” to give details of where the pubcaster will have to make cutbacks. The cut severs the traditional relationship between the BBC’s income and the annual rate of inflation, effectively amounting to a net cut in income.

No merger coming between Sirius and XM

Investors hoping to profit from a potential merger of North America’s two satellite radio giants have been dealt a significant blow after U.S. regulators indicated yesterday that such a deal would likely be blocked. Speculation about an alliance has been rampant since last summer, with executives at both companies stating publicly that a deal would save billions in costs.

Jim Shaw’s funding threat could kill TV fund

If Shaw Communications’ head Jim Shaw goes through with his threat to hold back his company’s legislated funding to the Canadian Television Fund, other distributors may follow. That could mean that independent producers of programs such as Degrassi: The Next Generation, Trailer Park Boys, Little Mosque on the Prairie and most documentaries won’t have the financing they need. But, argues Shaw, Canadian channels that buy their programs should pay out of their own revenues.

Introducing the 27-hour day

Nielsen Media Research is changing the way it measures TV viewing in the U.S. The changes, which are not expected to be implemented in Canada, use six different data streams to account for PVR playback. Nielsen will measure “one day” as 27 hours, “because of a strong feeling among clients that a 24-hour window would not capture people playing back their 8 p.m. Sunday shows at 8 p.m. on Monday, which is the most likely viewer behavior.” <small>Hat tip to Paul Gorbould</small>