Tag: Buffering
0 Episode 65 – 12/19/12 A Commemorative Clip Show!
To celebrate the fact that “Buffering …” is now an AWARD WINNING PODCAST (check out category #14), we decided to look back at the past 64 episodes to some of our favorite conversations and games. Here’s a quick overview of all of the episodes we used in this clip show (not the order in which these tracks appear): Episode 2, Episode 13, Episode 16, Episode 22, Episode 39, Episode 41, Episode 43, Episode 46, Episode 49, Episode 52, Episode 54, Episode 61, and Episode 62.
Taped (& compiled) at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on December 19, 2012.
As this week’s episode is a compilation of previous episodes, there were no bonus tracks this week.
Click here to listen: Episode 65 – 122012
0 Episode 64 – 12/11/12 feat. Steve “Frank” Frankenfield & Bennett Wadekamper
Bennett and Frank join Dan and Adam in the studio, where Frank and Bennett bond immediately over their common passion for “League of Legends”, and Adam and Dan learn a thing or two about League of Legends. We test out a new format with a commercial break in the middle, and then jump in to a round of Movie Bluff.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on December 11, 2012.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 64
0 Episode 64 – Happy “Ocarina of Time” Episode!
(Get it?)
So Adam, Bennett, Frank and I had a great time this week in the Wheels Brewing Co Studio, where Bennett and Frank turned out to be a great pairing, due to their common bond over “League of Legends”. With Bennett joining for the first time, and Frank having not been on in ages, it was great to get a fresh perspective on how other people devour streaming media compared to the diet Adam and I follow consisting primarily of Netflix.
Since this is a late posting, you get a BONUS Bonus Track right now! We had a fantastic riff after riff Mic Check this week, roaming from 90’s TV on Nickelodeon to “Machete” to Christmas trees, and on, and on, and on. Lots of great laughs in that Mic Check.
We also taped an instructional audio clip tied to “Movie Bluff” so we no longer need to explain it in EVERY episode (this means more time for GAMES!). We’ll make a lot of noise (a la postings) when it is available.
Until then, enjoy the Mic Checks for Episode 64.
0 Episode 63 – The gang’s all here!
First, sorry for the delay. With today’s weather-related traffic, and technical issues plaguing the studio this week, it took a few extra minutes to get everything up and running.
The good news? Now you get EVERYTHING from this week AT ONCE! All bonus tracks, and the episode have been posted simultaneously to give you hours of entertainment while you avoid the Minneapolis roads during the first legitimate snow of the year. (To all those in not-so-snowy areas, I wish I was there)
As I mentioned above, we had a few tech issues this week with John Egan joining via Skype. It was the run-of-the-mill “signal cut out a lot” stuff, so we’ve learned our lesson for the second time, and will put all of our energy toward FaceTime in the future, if we opt to phone guests in.
But that technical issue gave way to an additional bonus track this week, so go listen to that. And, of course, we have our Mic Check available on our site. We talk about beer. Preferred beers, to be specific.
AND, if you enjoy the “Buffering …” Podcast, go vote for us on Vita.MN’s “Best of 2012” list for Podcasts. You can check out the list, and vote, here. Vote! Vote! Vote! We don’t need first, but we’d love to hit top 10 in our second year! Voting ends on 12/9.
0 Episode 63 – 12/05/12 feat. John Egan & James Wheeler
James joins Dan and Adam in the studio, while John joins via Skype from Green Bay, WI. Unfortunately, there were a few tech issues regarding the connection, but we still had a solid episode overall. John and James mention what they’ve been streaming lately, and everyone discusses Disney’s partnership with Netflix. After a break, we jump right in to Movie Bluff.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on December 5, 2012.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 63
0 Soundtrack your life with Songza
Originally, the article was going to include a sub-title: “Why don’t you have Songza yet?”, because, really, why don’t you have Songza yet?
During a conversation in Episode 62, Matt Walstead mentioned that he was using Songza (www.songza.com) as one of his recent primary streaming services, and based on his description, I decided to investigate.
I had mentioned Songza on the show before, from a news story long past (most likely a launch story, or something of the like), but I had never played around with the iPhone app or the web site.
It’s AMAZING. It’s what a song discovery service SHOULD be. It’s the contextualizing of music into the rest of your life, based on “Playlists by Music Experts”, as the site claims, and, honestly, they are not giving the playlist generators enough credit.
For example, there are SEVEN different ways you access these playlists, including lists based on Genre, Activities, Moods, Decades, and Culture. After messing around with this app, I’ve determined my favorite playlist group is aptly named Record-Store Clerk, as its suggestions of playlist sub-groups include “Dance Music That’s Not Assaultive”, “Indie Music That’s Not Too Weird”, “Mustache Music (Or: Cool In The ’70s)”, and “This Will Piss Your Parents Off”. It really is that organization of music that you expect to find in the hipper realms of metropolitan areas, in the mostly deserted record shop where the staff knows exactly what you’re looking for, based on the two notes stuck in your head.
ON TOP OF THAT, there’s MORE. I know what you’re thinking: “But Dan, there are TOO many features already. This is too good to be true.” And you would be wrong, generic infomercial seeded audience member. For there’s the Concierge service. Based on time of day, with a dash of societal paradigms, the Concierge service will suggest genres FOR you. For example, I am writing this on a Friday night, and the Concierge is offering me the following options: “Bedtime”, “A Sweaty Dance Party”, “Pre-Gaming with Friends”, “Putting on Your Party Dress”, “Creating a Cool Atmosphere”, and “Unwinding”. Seeing as I already have my Party Dress on, in a manner of speaking, I went with the Cool Atmosphere one, and, as a result, it is narrowing down the tunes I should listen to into ANOTHER six categories, this time based on genre.
I spent the work day today bombing through the multitudes of dubstep available, to give it an honest chance, and I was really impressed by the volumes of music available in these playlists. But that’s the catch that I’ve mentioned a number of times: it’s a pre-set collection of playlists. You don’t experience the flexibility of Pandora’s lists, or the “control EXACTLY what you want to hear” of Spotify, but when used properly, it fits comfortably into most situations.
Like most streaming music sites these days, there is a social media aspect included, where everyone on Facebook knows you’re listening to the “Cry Yourself to Sleep” playlist, unless you disable the feature. It isn’t as invasive as Spotify’s “POST EVERY TRACK” setting, but it’s also not a feature I’d actively seek out.
There are also a few extra clock-related features, where you can set a specific playlist to start playing as an alarm at a certain time, and the ability to play music while displaying the app’s built in clock, but they aren’t anything to write home about. I imagine you could go through the Concierge service (which you can also set different days of the weeks, and times of day, kind of like looking at future traffic on Google Maps) and set certain appropriate playlists to pop up when you expect to be commuting to work, or doing housework, or what have you.
Right. So it’s great, right? Now let’s get down to brass tack. It’s available for iPhone, Android, Kindle, and computers for free (with clickable, but not audible, ads). So far, I’ve played with the iPhone app and the web site, and the user interface is nice. Not too complicated to navigate; not to noisy to sift through. “Nice” is really the most appropriate word for it. It also has the Pandora “You’ve Skipped Too Many Tracks For Now, But If You Switch Over To Another Playlist, You Can Keep Skipping” license restrictions, but with the number of playlists available, this shouldn’t hold you back.
I don’t think it’ll replace my iCloud use, or the occasional Spotify use, but I do think this may replace Pandora in my eyes, at least until I exhaust the playlists I am actually interested in hearing. I say it’s worth checking out to see how well the Concierge matches your moods, and to laugh at some of the playlists and categories. It’s not like it’ll cost you anything. I’m with the folks on the Apple App Store: 5 Stars for this one.
0 Episode 62 – 11/27/12 feat. Peter Jurgensen & Matt Walstead
Peter and Matt join Dan and Adam in the studio to chat about what they’re watching, what they’re listening to, and how movies are tougher to watch than TV shows when streaming. That, and they also play a great round of Movie Bluff.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on November 27, 2012.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 62
0 Episode 62 – We owe you bonus tracks & a broth gun
To start, we owe you a Bonus round of Movie Bluff from last week. It’s a REALLY, REALLY long game, but it’s a great one, so check it out! You can find it here.
Right. First, new content announcement! Comedian John Egan is developing some new content for us, based around a contest he won through HuHot Mongolian Grill. He’ll be on next week, so stay tuned! Until then, check out his Facebook page.
Next, we’re excited to announce that we have the next five episodes ALREADY BOOKED, and you are in for a hilarious and fun December. Stay tuned for that as well.
Finally, we had a great week with Peter Jurgensen and Matt Walstead joining myself and Adam in the studio this week. It’s another one of those ‘childhood friends invade the studio and hilarity ensues’-type moments.
Our Mic Check was brief this week, but fun, none the less. We recap Thanksgiving by creating a THANKSGIVING THEMED CARNIVAL! Including the obese gentleman who abuses the Midway. You know what? I’ll stop giving away stuff if you go listen right now. NOW! GO!
0 Episode 61 – 11/21/12 feat. Curtis James & Drew James
Curtis and Drew join Dan and Adam in the Wheels Brewing Co Studio for one of the best rounds of Movie Bluff that’s been played so far. They also talk about what’s coming to Netflix in the next month, and getting caught up in TV shows.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on November 21, 2012.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 61
0 Episode 60 – 11/13/12 feat. Katie Best & Maianne Preble
Katie and Maianne join Dan and Adam in the Wheels Brewing Co Studio for a goofy, fun, light-hearted episode after surviving election season. There’s talk of streaming services and media, e-books, radio, and more. They also play a round of “Movie Bluff”.
Taped at The Wheels Brewing Co Studio, Minneapolis, MN on November 13, 2012.
Check out photos and this week’s bonus tracks by clicking here.
Click here to listen: Episode 60 – 111312
The Buffering Podcast 