CLICK AND DOUBLE CLICK: INTERNET VIDEO CONTINUES TO IMPROVE WITH NEW PROGRAMS AND UPGRADES

Web TV may take on a whole new definition when Internet-based programs allow us to watch movies, television and videos in real time from our computer terminals.

Gone will be the days of buffering and garble because of net congestion. Gone will be the days of tiny and distorted images.

Just as the music industry is shuddering from the advent of MP3 files, so will Hollywood worry about movies shared over the Internet. Already some independent filmmakers have introduced their work over the Web.

Last week, while surfing the automobile sites, I had to upgrade my QuickTime to 4.0. While at the QuickTime site, I viewed the trailer for the new Toy Story 2 movie. To my surprise, the image was much enhanced with a much larger screen (at least 3 by 6 inches.)

OK, it's not perfect but the improvement is certainly noteworthy.

Let's check out the new QuickTime, which is free and available for both PC and Mac, at

www.quicktime.com

You can see a host of movie trailers, including the new 007, "The World is Not Enough." QuickTime is used by some 23 million fans to view trailers, commercials and interviews.

Warning: Some of these are massive files, so unless you have a lot of patience, a fast Internet connection is advisable.

Ready for adventure? Let's click off QuickTime to some sites that make use of this new technology.

www.virtualparks.org

You can get a 360-degree look at more than 700 park photographs in California and Utah at this site. You can choose from forests, wilderness sites, beaches and much more.

It's like a quick office getaway from your computer.

The site's author also created detailed color maps that show the location of many of these gorgeous panorama shots. Each panorama is made of a dozen separate shots and merged together.

Hold your mouse down and move it left or right, up or down to get the panoramic view. You can also zoom in and out. Don't go too fast. It could make you dizzy.

If you're tired of the great outdoors, let's go shopping. Better yet, let's go shopping in London.

From the QuickTime home page showcase section, you can click off to the well-known Harrod's department store in London. It offers panoramic scenes of its most famous departments. Or you can go directly there at

www.harrods.com/qtvr/front/index.htm

Hit your shift key to zoom in, and your control key to zoom back out.

You can also choose a larger version, which takes up almost your whole screen with a crisp image. Wow. Tea, anyone?

You can get a closer look at such departments as Antiques, Egyptian Hall, Meat Hall, Pianos and Musical, Toys and Room of Luxury.

Back at the QuickTime site, you can link off to more than a dozen choices for streaming QuickTime TV, including a special Apple event today at noon.

Of course, Windows MediaPlayer also offers a lot for PC users. One of my favorite sites in recent weeks is Adventure TV. The screen is still small, but the short film clips of faraway lands are wonderful.

www.adventuretv.com

Just choose your connection speed, from 28.8 to 56K or high-speed connection. The short film clips this month range from Nepal to an underwater journey into an abyss, from a look at Africa to a voyage down the Amazon.

There's more. You can also take a closer look at Guatemala, the "Queen of the Beasts," Bolivia and magical Madagascar.

You can jump off to more sites that feature Windows MediaPlayer at

windowsmedia.com

There are audio/video headlines of the day as well as categories that feature both audio and video clips.

You can also browse their event schedule for the day to see what's happening.

Another good place to check out video on the Internet is Media Channel.

www.mediachannel.com

This site boasts that it is changing the way the world views the Internet. It offers a daily guide to Internet video.

The most used portion of the site is the video guide, which focuses on the top video Web sites in specific categories. There are 18 such guides. For example, the Live Guide links you to Web sites that offer special video events or some that Webcast 24 hours a day.

If you want to view video but you don't want to download special viewing programs, such as QuickTime, check out their "No Plug-in" Guide.

Other guides include education, politics, kids' stuff, entertainment, health, spiritual, travel, sports and more. Make sure you scroll to the bottom of their busy front page to find the Guide categories.

Another good site to find Webcasts on the Internet can be found at Channel Seek.

channelseek.com

It bills itself as a program guide megasite for streaming audio and video. There are featured sites of the day, along with a listing of the "Top 50" sites.

There are listings for both special events and more than 70 daily programs.

The site also offers a free "remind me" service so you won't miss upcoming Web events and a searchable database of streaming audio and video.

What started this whole search for video on the Internet? Could it be that silly dancing baby. Maybe.

See that "Incredible Dancing Baby" for yourself at

www.primeconsult.com/(tilde)bobh/huggie.html

There are five different versions that play in MediaPlayer or QuickTime that range from eight seconds to nearly 30 seconds.

My feeling? Some people have too much time on their hands.

What's your favorite video site? E-mail me at click@semissourian.com

See you in Cyberspace.

~Joni Adams is managing editor of the Southeast Missourian.