URLs4TV

by Chris Raley
June 2000

If you’ve surfed the Web on TV long, you’ve probably figured out that some Web sites do not play well on a TV screen. The reason is many Web sites are text driven and much of that text is in small black letters against a white background. The scan lines on even a large TV make this kind of text blurry and unreadable.

We’ve focused our list only on those Web sites that play well on the TV screen. These couch-certified sites should be intelligible from a distance of about 10 feet, require a limited amount of scrolling to navigate and include photos, graphics or sound. The sites listed here are geared toward PC/TV users (requiring RealPlayer 7, for instance). Unfortunately, WebTV and many other Net-top boxes do not yet support streaming video. For Net-top surfers, we have listed several Net-top certified sites on our Web site at www.smarttvmag.com.

Our Twentieth Century
Category: Educational
www.20thcentury.com

Leonard Nimoy hosts this audio/video-based history lesson that takes you from the 1930s to the 1970s and offers a trivia game that tests your knowledge of history and a puzzle that challenges you to piece together an historical image.

In design, the main menu page is centered on a small screen that, with RealPlayer 7, plays the video clips. The menu items are in bold black lettering set against a light brown background, and give you a selection of categories from sports to world news and a choice of dates. Select the date and Leonard Nimoy introduces a selection of historical footage from that year. Though the video screen is small, this audio and video driven site will play great on your tube.

Shortends
Category: Entertainment
www.shortends.com

Shortends offers short films and animations to anyone equipped with Realplayer 7. They do not require membership to enjoy their selection of shorts from independent filmmakers, which include categories like animation, sci-fi, drama and action. Choose to watch a spoof documentary on the American dream or a music video from an unknown band. The shorts are usually around five minutes in length, but can be as long as thirty minutes. Shortends incorporates clever design and easy usability for the viewer.

MeTV
Category: Entertainment
www.MeTV.com

MeTV presently offers samples of full-length feature films from a limited selection to their members for free. It also offers a movie facts section and a books, music, movie mall to all their visitors. To be a member your computer must meet certain software requirements: Internet Explorer 4 or 5, Netscape 3 or newer and Windows Media Player, Version 6. For more computer specifications check out the requirements posted on their Web site. As of summer 2000, MeTV will attempt to unite the Internet world with the video rental industry by allowing members to download full-length motion pictures and watch them at full screen.

StudioNext
Category: Entertainment
www.StudioNext.com

The mission of StudioNext is to expand the fun and entertainment side of the Internet by providing online programing consisting of short films, animations, videos and games. Designed over a soft, dark blue background, StuidoNext uses a lot of animated menu items. You need either Macromedia Flash 4 or Apple Quick Time 4 to run its streaming videos.

Studio next goes beyond just short films. It displays the interactive version of RageTV, a TV show which showcases alternative music in and around Boston. In the arena of sports, they presently offer an interview with pro BMX biker Matt Hoffman, and a show called Moviegoer runs trailers and reviews of feature films.

ClickMovie
Category: Entertainment
www.ClickMovie.com

ClickMovie wants to bring its members "every version of every film, ever made, in every language, whenever and where ever you want it." With an expanding selection of movies presently numbering 149,000, ClickMovie is well on the way to accomplishing its goal. ClickMovie has a Personal Producer which allows you to create and post your own videos. Further, ClickMovie can connect you to streaming TV stations across the country and give you free trailers of movies just coming into theaters.