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Comment by theodpHN | Hacker News Reader

RIP. Was a faithful CC viewer. Anyone aware of something like this show today that regularly reviews general software/apps/hardware/tech for a more mainstream audience - on PBS, cable, network, or even podcasts? With the role tech plays in the lives of all ages these days, one would think there would be more tech info offerings for the general public today than what was available back in the 80's - Computer Chronicles, MSNBC shows, magazine/newspapers (including the NY Times!) - but nothing comes to mind.

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There's almost too much volume these days. There's dedicated websites/apps/podcasts for Apple, Android, PC gaming, Xbox gaming, PS4 gaming, Switch gaming, etc. Product Hunt was a hot thing for a while and is still running. In terms of more general coverage, The Verge, Engadget, Lifehacker, Wired, and NYT Wirecutter are still good among many many others.

There was a good run of Computer Chronicles, TechTV, and G4 for a while there. These days, This Week in Tech still exists in podcast form. G4 had a short revival as G4TV a few years back. There's nothing nearly as popular these days, but there's still lots of good ones like Waveform, SomeGadgetGuy, and AwesomeCast.

There is very little with a) high technical quality in the presented content, b) an assumption that the average viewer is reasonably intelligent, and c) high production quality.

The Computer Chronicles was kind of unique that way.

Edit: OTOH I just saw a 55 minute well-produced youtube video on ASML's EUV photolithography machine that fulfilled all of that. I had some bias against this channel for some reason I don't remember, but anyway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiUHjLxm3V0.

Veritassium is in a league of its own. Just take a look at their last year's videos. The production value is just second to none.

They have enough of a following now that they can dedicate 55 minutes to something and not worry about the algorithm, which usually dictates much shorter form factors

This was the first of their videos that impressed me. Looking back, I have watched a few of their videos per year. Previous were videos tended have much less content density and quality.

I really enjoyed the segments where they let ASML's (now former) CTO Martin van den Brink just talk.

ExplainingComputers with Christopher Barnatt is a regular online series that tickles that right spot for me. He's got the professorial yet whimsical energy of an 80s BBC presenter, making the show feel a bit like The Computer Programme or Beyond 2000.

https://explainingcomputers.com

https://m.youtube.com/@explainingcomputers

It's strange to think nowadays that the "MS" in MSNBC meant Microsoft. How the times have changed.

Even more specifically, it was MSN + NBC.

Leo Laporte's TWiT podcast network is the only thing that comes somewhat close but it still falls well short of CC or TechTV.

YouTube has a few quality channels but they tend to fit into a particular niche. The bigger names are just lowest common denominator slop like LinusTechTips.

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