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March 24, 2008
AnyTV: watching television on library computers?
I have not yet partaken of the "watch TV on the computer" phenomenon, but I am hearing endless rave reviews about AnyTV - a free service that lets you watch television and listen to radio from your computer. From their own description of the service:
Watch local TV, world TV, Live TV, satellite TV from countries of all world in different languages on your PC with anyTV not just at home, but at the OFFICE , work or wireless. Watch 2630+ Online TV, 6910+ Video clips. Listen to 4750+ Online Radio.
Sounds cool, huh? Makes you want to try it? I love how they do "OFFICE" in all caps...supervisors are going to love that.
The screenshot to the left shows the menu (from a screenshot on their website). Looks pretty simple, no?
I know I am opening a can of huge worms, but if we provided this service on library computers, users could use our machines to watch television too. Now, wouldn't that be cool? Headsets, yes, headsets... I can see lines forming now for reservations, people getting cranky at the guy watching the SciFi Channel because they need the computer to write an English paper. But all of that happens now anyway with YouTube, MySpace, email, you name it. This seems like a very cool addition to me. But then again, I don't work on the public desk any more, so I suppose I shouldn't be throwing ideas like that at any one :)
March 24, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
Headsets...our library quit loaning those out because of health issues (and not enough manpower to clean them between users). Now people need to bring their own (most folks have ones for their MP3 players/Ipods/etc.) or the bookstore provides some for us to sell.
Posted by: Amanda | March24, 2008
We don't prevent our users from watching video online, but when we have enough people streaming media on our computers, everyone's connection speed tanks and we get endless complaints about our slow computers. We have the max speed we can get through our ISP, but it's just not enough for everyone to start streaming TV shows. But as an Internet TV watcher myself (at home!), this AnyTV sounds pretty cool.
Posted by: Sarah H. | March24, 2008
Ooh, another "Sarah H."! Yes, connection speed for multimedia, especially video content, is an issue in many libraries including my own. I guess I am simply dreaming about an ideal world with ideal connections and quantities of computers for the public. Ah, to dream.
Posted by: Sarah Houghton-Jan (LiB) | March25, 2008
There is nothing wrong with watching television as long as the programs can be monitored and in school relate to an educational topic.
Posted by: CarolG | March28, 2008
