What an amazing statistic, every single second that goes by, more than one hour of video is uploaded to YouTube. If you every thought you’d watch every video on YouTube, forget it, that reality passed a long time ago.

Google have created a site http://onehourpersecond.com to visualise this milestone. There’s some great data like ‘In 24 seconds of uploads to YouTube, one full day elapses, and the nyan cat says “Nyan” over 345,600 times.’

Here in Australia we’re constantly faced with the 20 million problem. The relatively small population here leaves us distant in the minds of large tech companies, despite being well known for being early adopters of technology. This means that services (and products) often launch first and sometimes only in the US.

Content deals for movies and TV shows are almost always negotiated on a country-by-country basis, despite the international marketplace they sell to. The good news is, there is actually something frustrated users can do to work around these problems.

VPN is a technology that sends your internet traffic through a remote server, using that IP to access international services. While the legalities of doing this may seem a little grey, what you should know is that there are services out there to help you achieve this.

ibVPN is a paid VPN service that can connect you with locations in the US, UK, Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, France and many others. The US and UK are of particular interest as they are leading the way in the proliferation of IPTV. Services like Hulu, Netflix, Pandora and many more like it are still unavailable in Australia, years after their release overseas.

Performance
There are actually plenty of free VPN solutions available, however the quality of these vary wildly. Often connections are made to low-end servers, or servers with low-bandwidth, which means you’ll often experience buffering while streaming video. While there may be some scenario’s where a VPN would be used that doesn’t need a constant flow of bits, IPTV certainly does. Without good performance a VPN used for IPTV is useless.

By charging for the service, ibVPN is able to provide a reliable connection solid enough to stream movies and TV shows from the services mentioned above. It works well when you allow the service to set the video quality automatically, but I found if I set it to the highest quality, buffering did occur. Setting Hulu to the highest quality was more of a test than a real-life need, even set to auto, the video looked amazing on a 13” MBA.

Using Speedtest.net I was able to achieve 6.60Mb/s down, with a ping of 188ms, not bad for connecting to the other side of the planet.

Support
Setting up ibVPN is actually really easy. You can create a new connection to a VPN and use the credentials you receive when signing up. You can connect PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets individually or configure your router to use the VPN and have all internet traffic use it. This opens up new possibilities for gaming consoles and set-top-boxes with geo-restricted applications now becoming available to you.

Naturally some of these international services still need you to have a US or UK address and often a credit card in that country, so just be aware, access is one thing, signing up and payment is an entirely different problem.

IBVPN also provides desktop applications for you to use if you’d prefer to avoid the networking configuration. Simply launch the app, put in the IP of the server you wish to connect to (locations and IPs provided by ibVPN), your username and password, then click connect. Clicking disconnect drops you back to your standard connection, this makes it easy for anything in your family to operate.

Cost
Starting at just US$7.95 per month, it’s hard to argue that this is anything other than good value for money. Considering the wide array of content you’ll get access to, ibVPN is really a bargain.

Overall
Sometimes reviewing products can be like visiting the dentist, and other times it can be a delight. With a service that actually works and provides real benefits, it was an enjoyable experience. While the copyright holders argue about how to nickel and dime you, the content is what we all want. ibVPN provides a way to get access to that IPTV content, so for that I have to recommend it.

More information @ ibVPN.com

Over the Christmas break, there’s often chunks of unproductive time that we could waste or put to good use. TED Talks are an amazing resource, with videos from some of the smartest people on the planet across a wide variety of disciplines. Take the opportunity to visit TED.com and watch some thought provoking presentations that may actually make you think differently.

Sure the idiot box is there if you’d prefer to shut your brain off for a while and zone out, but when that’s over, why not be entertained and educated at the same time. Best of all, this amazing content is free. Before this starts to sound too much like a paid post, it’s not by the way, the reason I’m highlighting it, is that during those late nights, it has provided me with inspiration and motivation to work harder and smarter.

The site is constantly being updated with new content, so check back frequently to see what’s new. Personally I spend a lot of time in the technology, innovation and business sections but there are videos on almost every subject matter at this point.

One of my favourite talks is from Thomas Suarez, a 12 year old app developer check it out.

More information @ TED.

Following on from Google’s continued interface redesigns from G+ to Google Reader, now YouTube seems next on the list. The new design is being rolled out, but if you want to check it out right now, you can. Simply follow the instructions below and you will get to the new redesign.

Unfortunately this only sets a temporary cookie which is removed when you close the browser. That issue aside, after spending a few minutes with it, I’ve got to say I like the redesign. The left navigation panel is clean and simple, videos from your subscriptions or YouTube trends list in the middle and related or recommended videos on the right. It’s clean, simple and works really well.

Even the accounts section got a UI overhaul to match the new design. The only complain i have is that it doesn’t take advantage of widescreen monitors to display more content.

Instructions

1. Go to http://www.youtube.com/
2. Press Ctrl + Shift and J in Chrome to open the Developer Tools
Press Ctrl+Shift+K in Firefox
3. Click on the "Console" Tab and enter
document.cookie="VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE=ST1Ti53r4fU";
4. Reload the website and enjoy the new layout.

Update
The trick also works with IE9, just hit F12 for the developer tools and pull up the Console tab, then follow the rest of the steps.

YouTube just announced with a blog post, that they are bringing loads or new original content via new YouTube channels. The new channels will be created by well-known personalities and content producers as well as some of the most innovative up-and-coming media companies and some of YouTube’s own existing partners.

The first of these new original channels will appear on YouTube starting next month and continuing over the next year. They’ll be available on any internet-connected device, with all the normal interactivity and social features of YouTube built right in.

While no details of financial arrangements between YouTube and content creators has been detailed, Google do reference their partner grants program announced in July. So is this the IPTV platform to challenge traditional over-the-air broadcast and Pay TV services ? For more information and to sign-up for updates, head to http://www.youtube.com/creators/original-channels.html

For many years, television shows have only been something that you could get in your home, on your television set. The signal was sent out over a cable or directly over the air. This meant that it could be picked up with a cable connection to the back of the set or with an antenna. When satellite television systems came along, you had the added ability to get the picture from a satellite dish. Still, you were confined to having to use a television set if you wanted to watch anything. Now, however, all of that is changing.

The internet has, in many ways, changed the entertainment world. This happened first with video games, which could be played online. People did not have to buy them anymore. Then it happened with movies and books. These could be distributed over the internet so that people could have them instantly. As soon as they wanted to read something or listen to something, it was theirs. Movies followed shortly after that. Only now, however, has this same change come to television. Shows can now be streamed over the web so that you can watch them on computers and mobile devices.

There are two main ways that you can use these services in Australia. First of all, you can watch shows as soon as they air. You will see them in real time, just as if you were watching them on a television set. This is nice for those who do not want to pay for a television or who, for some reason or another, cannot have one. The second way to watch is to see all of the shows after they have aired. You can watch them as reruns whenever you want. This is great if you had to miss the show when it was on. Instead of having to wait until the channel decided to air the show again, you can just choose to watch it at a time that works for you.

One thing that this has changed is that people must think about streaming shows when they compare mobile broadband providers. They cannot just get a plan that is powerful enough for them to browse text-based sites. They need to have one that is good enough to give them the shows without their ever having to be slowed down by loading times or buffering. They have to compare mobile broadband plans based on whether or not they will be able to get the shows seamlessly. If they cannot, they are often uninterested in the plans. Internet providers have been scrambling to keep up with this new demand.

You should note, when you compare mobile broadband plans that you will also have to pay for the television services. In most cases, they are not free. You need to budget this fee in along with the fee for the internet connection itself. You will be able to get local shows, foreign shows, and even movies, but it comes with a price. There are a few different providers, including Telstra, Fetch, and Foxtel, so you will want to see which plan gives you the shows you want, the options that you want, and a price that you can afford. You can then order this plan and begin watching all that you have been missing.

A guest post by Spencer Hogg from the Broadband Expert website where you can compare mobile broadband providers.

Diggnation has been one of the internets most successful and well known podcasts. After nearly 7 years of weekly episodes, Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht are calling it quits at the end of 2011. An amazing 340 episodes, Diggnation travelled the world sharing Digg stories with millions of loyal fans.

Alex Albrecht will continue to appear on Revision3 as co-host of the popular Totally Rad Show.

Kevin Rose will also continue to appear on Revision3 programming on Foundation.

Unfortunately it looks like Diggnation, loved by Australians, will never make the trip down under. While the idea was discussed in multiple episodes, Aussie fans will sadly miss out. Revision 3 will continue to host every one of the 340 episodes so you can reminisce well into the future.

Personally I’ve been watching since the beginning and have enjoyed many laughs, drinks and conversations as a result of watching Diggnation well done Kevin and Alex, and thanks for relinquishing the iTunes charts for someone else to dominate.

Kevin Rose’s latest podcast Foundation, has now found a new home at http://foundation.bz. If your not familiar with Foundation, it’s definitely worth checking out. Kevin interviews the people behind some of the biggest online services that you use everyday. If your working on a startup or considering getting into it, their insights are incredibly beneficial.

These are people who have been there, done that, so being able to tap their minds and share it with the world is something I personally say thankyou to Kevin Rose for. Enjoy.

Samsung’s new range of SMART TV’s features an app store (doesn’t everything these days?). This afternoon in Melbourne, Essendon Football Club Captain Jobe Watson and players Mark McVeigh and Michael Hurley helped launch the BigPond AFL Game Analyser application. The free app allows you lucky few who have a Samsung SMART TV to watch ANY game from the 2010 and 2011 seasons.. wow.

Brad Wright, National Sales and Marketing Manager for Audio Visual, Samsung Electronics Australia, said, “With games available within 12 hours of being played, the BigPond AFL Game Analyser app gives footy fans the best seat in the house. They can now interact with every aspect of the game, relive game-changing moments, argue with their friends over umpire decisions and celebrate a game’s highs and lows.”

The application puts you in control of the action, allowing you to access game highlights like goals, marks, tackles and bloopers via the remote control. Big thanks to those hardworking statisticians who power mark and index all the action, what an un-recognised job.

You can also access statistics on the game, players etc. Each game of AFL played will be added within 12 hours of being played. Impressive, but I’d expect to see live stats at some point in the future.

If your an AFL super-fan, a Samsung SMART TV with the AFL Game Analyser is a must have. Lets face it, there is no other 10-foot experience like it. For those Rugby fans out there, don’t sweat, there’s also a similar NRL Game Analyser app for you.

This kind of complimentary application really sets the scene for things to come in the living room. My only wish was that Sammy’s SMART TV’s were a little cheaper so more people could enjoy these great new experiences.

For more information, check out http://samsung.com/au/tv

The following guest post is by Sarah Routledge who writes for Australian broadband comparison site Compare Broadband, which offers independent advice on choosing the best internet plan.

On-demand TV over the internet is finally taking off in Australia in a big way, with FetchTV, Telstra’s T-Box and Foxtel on Xbox the main options.

While US on-demand services like Hulu are still a long way off in Australia due to rights issues, Australian consumers still have access to a range of great services over their ADSL broadband connection.

FetchTV

iiNet and now Internode have made deals with FetchTV, an on-demand IPTV service that offers extra TV channels and movies over an ADSL2+ or fast ADSL connection. Optus plans to launch a similar service soon on smartphones and tablets.

Through a set-top box, customers can rent the latest movies, such as The Social Network and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The box can also be used to pause, rewind and record TV shows, with a terabyte of recording space available.

iiNet‘s full FetchTV service costs $19.95 a month when the set-top box is bought outright for $399, and $29.95 a month on a 24-month contract if rented. Customers must also have a BoB or BoB Lite modem.

iiNet is offering a free BoB Lite modem for a limited time to new customers who are bundling their broadband and FetchTV package together. Internode offers the same deal as iiNet but Internode allows customers to use their own modem, provided it’s IPTV compatible.

Crucially, both iiNet and Internode offer these services unmetered. This means customers can select a relatively low data plan and still watch TV and movies to their heart’s content.

Foxtel on Xbox

Billed as a more convenient and contract-free alternative to cable, Foxtel’s offer of premium TV channels on the Xbox has generated a lot of interest.

In order to access the service, users need a Foxtel on Xbox 360 online profile, an internet connection of a minimum 1,500kbps, an Xbox 360 console, a subscription to Xbox LIVE for FOXTEL On Demand access or a subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold for channel packages.
Prices start from less than $20 per month and additional packages from $10. Alternatively, customers can rent individual movies without paying a monthly subscription.

Provided you already have an Xbox and an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription, this is an easy way of accessing extra channels and on-demand content and will work with any Internet Service Provider (ISP).

The downside here is all the content counts toward your download limit, so you will realistically need a Terabyte or unlimited ADSL2+ plan to get the most out of your subscription. Foxtel also cannot broadcast NRL and AFL games over the internet, under the current rights agreement.

Telstra T-Box

Telstra currently offers seven Bigpond channels on its set-top T-Box, including AFL and NRL match replays, as well as the free-to-air channels. Foxtel has also struck a deal with Telstra, which means T-Box customers will soon be able to watch Foxtel channels over the internet.

All the free-to-air channels are available to pause, record and rewind, plus a library of movies are available to rent on demand. The T-Box costs $299 to buy outright and there is no monthly subscription fee, as with FetchTV. However, you will need a Bigpond broadband plan, from $49.95 a month. Downloads are unmetered, so the service won’t eat into your broadband quota.

Internet TV in Australia

At the moment, a broadband plan and a set-top box is the best way to enjoy TV and movies on demand. However, Smart TVs with internet connectivity are the latest gimmick from manufacturers, so IPTV will soon be available to more households as people upgrade their technology. It’s likely that more ISPs will offer their own versions of IPTV as the market grows.