Video on Demand

Broadcasting live video used to require a huge satellite truck, thousands of dollars in equipment and several strong souls to lug around bulky machines. Then YouTube came around and all you needed was a camera, a computer and a little bit of Web savvy. Now Web video has gotten even easier. With Qik.com, a free Web service that launched in public test mode on July 21, all you need is a cell phone. Qik takes video from mobile phones and broadcasts it instantly onto the Internet. You can share a baby's first steps or a wedding from afar, all in real time. Just point a cell phone at something, press a button and anyone with Web access can watch what you're seeing as it's happening, and send comments or questions directly to your cell phone. Qik videos can be downloaded from the site, or embedded on any blog or website — or... [read full story]