Sponsor : Node101

NODE101 is an open source, collaborative project created to teach and spread videoblogging worldwide. From online resources to physical classrooms and ongoing events, the goal of NODE101 is to teach media literacy as a life skill and to change the current media landscape from being a lecture to being a conversation. Of, For and By media makers.

Thanks to Jay Dedman and Ryanne for the donation to podcampuk.com

NTI Pre Testing Setup & Wifi

I visited the birmingham NTI centre this morning in preparation of the event in the next 9 days! - i went to test the wifi capacity that has now been added to the event. I'm pleased to say that on tests it was operating at 6 meg download and 2.5 meg upload - please note this is not dsl but cable so the speed is constant. The speeds are expected to be a little bit faster over the weekend due to less people using the connection at the collage.

A few issues arose this morning regarding the connection however. The internet feed is proxied we will have a leaflet to give out when you arrive to be able to setup your laptop to use this proxy. We tested adium (mac osx) and skype and both of those could be configured for use. We are actively making sure ports are open to access blogtv for streaming and streaming to streamguys for the quicktime feed. Web access is un-effected and is very speedy so text blogging at the event should not be an issue. The reason why the connection is proxied is that the collage has very strict rules about usage of the internet (totally understandable)

Wifi was reported to work in all rooms and is using an brand new airport to deliver the wifi across the rooms.

Sponsors : Blogtv.com & Blip.tv

We have added two more additional sponsors to the mix in the form of blogtv.com (for streaming the event out free of charge to people - no bandwidth restrictions and archival) they also gave us some money for the event - thanks!

Blip.tv have also put together some funds for podcampuk and we are very grateful to mike hudack and his team for stepping up to the plate as we get over closer to the event.

World Exclusive Software Release @ Podcampuk

as part of my session on videoblogging i hope to demo a piece of software as well as others to help newbie vloggers get started. we have the world exclusive to one such application that enables people to do this. more on the schedule.

BT Podshow Show Support!

We are pleased to announce the support of BTPodShow for PodcampUK.

PodShow is a premier social media community, and daily delivers a digital avalanche of the best in audio, video, podcasts, and music on the web. They have been at the forefront of podcasting and new-media since the beginning and continue to produce great shows, new ideas and to promote the creativity and artistry of podcasters, videobloggers, musicians, comedians, independent film makers and the new-media community in general.

There are already many great BTPodShow people giving time and energy to PodcampUK and this show of support is a lovely gesture from all the PodShow family.

Thanks PodShow! See you all at PodcampUK! :)

Evening Event & Hotel

The evening event and hotels are one and the same so it makes a perfect combination for our evening event. Held on campus at aston university the business centre is a great central location and only 5-10 minutes walk from the NTI center (a few pubs on the way i am sure!)

As of this moment there are 150 bedrooms available for the weekend (basically plenty right now for the weekend, friday and saturday if required) and we have agreed a special rate via the NTI. You will need to call reservations on 0121 204 3726 and quote "NTI Rates" - you do not of course have to use the onsite hotel and accommodation - am sure there are many others in birmingham and the surrounding areas.

• classic bedroom, bed and breakfast - £40 inclusive of vat
• standard bedroom, bed and breakfast - £50 inclusive of vat
• superior bedroom, bed and breakfast - £60 inclusive of vat
  

You can see photos of the nti centre and the evening location over here.

We do intend to have a band play for an hour and there is plenty of space for chatting, drinking and i believe they have a restaurant/snack bar type thing cooking food till around 9pm. The building itself is open 24/7 with birmingham central for nightlife just a short walk away.

*update* - one of our attendees has already booked the hotel and found that the price was even better than the price above as she got the "single" rate. i believe she got the superior room at the classic bedroom price. I need to confirm this however.

Pod3.tv Joins PodCamp UK!

With PodcampUK less than one month away, we are delighted to announce that another great sponsor has joined the cause. The latest recruit, comes in the form of the innovative video-podcast and webtv company Pod3.tv.

Created in 2006, Pod3.tv was the brainchild of Neil Fairbrother, who created the 6th fastest growing brand in the UK in 2002 (Langley-based Neos Networks), where he invented Liquid Bandwidth' business-to-business telecoms service. The beautifully designed Pod3.tv succinctly defines their purpose, when it describes the company as a "21st century TV company" that creates "high quality TV-style shows as video podcasts that are commercially sponsored – just like commercial TV."

With content that ranges from the arts and music, to business, documentary, food and drink, gardening, travel and more, Pod3.tv is a forward thinking and highly creative company and as such, is a perfect sponsor for the UK's first ever PodCamp.

This is yet more fantastic news for an event that is rapidly shaping up as the new-media party of the UK summer.

Join us by signing up on the wiki. It's totally free to attend and it's going to be really special!