Shane on TV

As mentioned below, the company I work for (iQ Content) is giving away 10,000 Euro to Ireland's most original web startup.
This initiative has attracted a LOT of media attention.
Last night, we were featured on RTÉ News Two. 
Watch the video on the RTÉ website (from 19mins 37secs onwards) or watch a lower quality YouTube grab below.
A wonderful station really (ignoring what I wrote in a previous post, ahem.)

Click to read the full post » at Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Money, money, money ...

The company I work for - iQ Content - is giving away €10,000 to help grow a good web idea into a great business. No strings attached. 
No, seriously. No strings.
There are just 2 conditions:
  1. The prize will go to the best business plan for an internet start-up.
  2. You must be based on the island of Ireland.

Click to read the full post » at Thursday, March 26, 2009

Great face for radio

Some while ago I wrote about RaboDirect and how they are putting it up to conservative Irish banks through their innovative use of the web.
NewsTalk 106FM provides another example of adventurous web content. Since last Friday the Right Hook show has been streamed live on the web. A screen grab of the new talk website, showing a smiling George Hook
Nothing new there you say.
However, they are not just streaming audio - but video as well. That means you can watch George Hook as well as listen to him.

Is it a good idea?

Well, let's wait and see. The screen-capture at right shows that only 134 people were watching at that moment. That must be a tiny percentage of the total listenership.
But even if this video idea proves to be a flop, at least they had the guts to try it out. They didn't just slavishly try to imitate the BBC. They created interesting web content within the constraints of their own budget.
So hats off to Hookie & team.

Click to read the full post » at Monday, March 23, 2009

Rant, rage and no wifi

Who would have thought it would be so effing hard to find a cafe with wireless web access in Dublin city centre. 
An don't get me started about Malahide. I went into every single cafe there 3 weeks ago looking for wifi. None. Nada. Zip.
While innumerable pubs and restaurants have free wifi, almost no cafes do. What's that about?! Am I more likely to want to use my computer over a cup of coffee, or over a rake of pints or a slap-up meal? 
Very frustrating.
Get with it Dublin. You embarrass me.

Click to read the full post » at Sunday, March 08, 2009