Month: May 2011

Audio & Video Chat Software

Why Skype is the New Solitaire

Have you ever played the lonely card game, Solitaire?  I bet most of you have, at-one-time-or-another, played Solitaire on a Windows PC.  Don’t be ashamed, you remember, right next to Minesweeper? These two games came preloaded on PCs starting with Windows 3.1.  And because they came preloaded, we all played them, at least once.  I personally have played them hundreds of times, and I bet my mom has played them thousands of times!

Windows 3.1 Solitaire Minesweeper
Solitaire and Minesweeper on Microsoft Windows 3.1. Image courtesy of toastytech.com

Sure, you may have played Solitaire using real cards, before Windows digitized it.   But the truth is that Solitaire was not exactly popular in the 1980s (unless you were in your 80s).  And it didn’t’ get mainstream until Windows included it in their typical 3.1 installation.  Secretaries, stock boys, and network administrators across the country started playing just out of curiosity, to kill time during their lunch break (or maybe not during their lunch breaks).

Then along came the Internet, cell phones, text messaging, AIM, Napster, Friendster, MySpace, and a zillion other ways to pass the time online, and suddenly Solitaire wasn’t so popular.  Nowadays, the biggest extra-curricular activity in most offices is Facebook, with Twitter a close second.  But tell me, readers, how did you first get online?  Ever use a program called Internet Explorer?   Sure, many of you are surfing using Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Rockmelt, but chances are you have tried IE at least once, right?

What about MSNBC?  Not exactly a channel I would order on its own, but I will admit, I have definitely seen it, because it was part of a larger cable television package.

This is what Microsoft is good at: putting various programs into a package and selling that package.  Look at Microsoft Office, the standard in 80% of America’s corporate office buildings, and most often installed as a package.  Last week, it was announced that Microsoft is acquiring Skype, which until recently was used mostly by college kids keeping in touch with their parents and international friends. By purchasing Skype and putting it into Windows, Office, XBox 360, and Windows Phones, Microsoft will introduce video chatting to Corporate Middle America, just like it introduced Solitaire.  No need to download anything, your Outlook contacts are automatically imported, just click and go.  Need to setup a webinar or teleconference? Now it can all be done through Microsoft Office!

The biggest difference between Skype and Solitaire, of course, is that you can’t video chat alone.  Or can you? There are currently  websites, programs, and apps that will randomly connect you with another random someone via video chat.  But readers,  be warned: I heard about half the video feeds feature up close shots of male private parts.  Yikes!  I’d rather play Solitaire. :)

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Mind Map of May 19, 2011 #AVchat

An AV Twitter Party About Blogging

by Paul Konikowski, CTS-D (click on image to zoom in)

Mindmeister Mind Map of #AVchat Twitter Party about Blogging

For a high quality PDF of this mind map, or for more information on mind-mapping, blogging, or twitter parties please email me, Paul Konikowski, at pkav.info@gmail.com or DM on Twitter @pkaudiovisual.

Wavy Gravy’s 75th Birthday Boogie

What A Long, Strange Concert It Was

Wavy Gravy's 75th Birthday Boogie ClownsLast night, I attended Wavy Gravy’s 75th Birthday Boogie, an epic 6+ hour benefit concert for the Seva Foundation, featuring an all-star cast of classic California psychedelic rock bands. The event was held at the Craneway Pavilion in Point Richmond, CA.  As I drove into the heavily industrialized area with my buddy Andrew, I felt like I was somehow entering the album art of Pink Floyd’s Animals.

Pink Floyd Animals
Pink Floyd's Animals, image courtesy of Wikipedia

The Craneway Pavilion is housed inside the former Ford Motor Company assembly plant, also known as The Ford Richmond Plant.  The Pavilion itself is enormous, like an industrial cathedral, with over 45,000 square feet of mostly concrete floor, and huge glass windows looking out to a spectacular view of San Francisco.  With over 5000 concert goers in attendance, I heard that it was the first time the Craneway Pavilion has ever sold out since it opened in 2009.

The concert sound system consisted of a dozen line-array elements hung on either side of the stage, and a handful of delay speaker zones using wall mounted trapezoidal boxes.  Despite the well-engineered PA system and acoustic treatments, the show was plagued all night with feedback squeals.  Not sure who was to blame really, but if it was my event, I would start with the monitor engineer, but I’m not sure they even had a monitor engineer.  Luckily the crowd was patient (and rather intoxicated), and Wavy Gravy didn’t seem to mind, because it was all for a good cause anyway.

Its never easy being the first act at a benefit show, but Hot Buttered Rum didn’t seem to mind, as they opened the show with a dynamite acoustic performance.  The Ace of Cups (the original all-girl rock band) managed a heartfelt reunion set amongst almost constant feedback issues, followed by extended jams by the amazing guitarist Steve Kimmock and his band Zero.  The lineup continued with a soulful performance by The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, who were joined by Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead for one of Chris’ new songs, “They Love Each Other”.

Hot Buttered Rum Craneway Pavilion Point Richmond CA
Hot Buttered Rum at the Craneway Pavilion in Point Richmond, CA. Photo by Paul Konikowski, CTS-D

It was getting close to midnight as Mickey Hart (also from the Grateful Dead) and Friends took the stage, including bassist Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, a nice surprise.  Wavy Gravy officially turned 75 at midnight as musicians repeatedly mouthed ‘I can’t hear anything’ to folks off stage left.  Around 12:30pm, about 50 hand drummers joined the band on the stage chanting Go Wavy something or other over an extended rendition of Santana’s Jingo.  The man of the hour was wheeled into the middle of the room on a giant hippie throne, parting the tye-dyed sea of hippies, as hundreds of polka dot balloons fell from the ceiling.  Ace of Cups led the crowd in a classic Happy Birthday sing-along to a Wavy Gravy who seemed to be overflowing with gratitude and positive energy.

Like any good acid trip, the benefit concert had it’s ups and downs, and the ending was really the best part.  Bob Weir closed out the show, playing Grateful Dead songs well past 2am, inviting many of previous performers to join him on stage.  My personal favorites were Tennessee Jed with Chris Robinson on vocals, and a very melodic Sugaree featuring Nicki Bluhm, leaving me wanting more as she left the stage. 

Wavy_Gravy_Craneway_Pavillion_Point_Richmond
Wavy Gravy - Photo by Paul Konikowski, CTS-D

The party continues later this month on the East coast, as Wavy Gravy’s Birthday Boogie comes to The Beacon Theater in Manhattan on Friday May 27, 2011.  I encourage my Northeast readers to check out this show if you can, its a great venue located on the upper west side.  The lineup is different, but with Ani Difranco, Bruce Hornsby, Dr. John, and Jackson Browne on the bill, I’m sure it will be just as fantastic.  My advice: wear comfy shoes, arrange an overnight babysitter, and get a room next door at the Beacon Hotel.  Trust me, it’s going to be a long, strange night.

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