I’ve heard a lot on “advanced advertising” in my day job recently, so when the opportunity came up to talk with Revision3 CEO Jim Louderback (formerly of PC Magazine) about their deal with VideoClix, I could hardly turn it down. VideoClix does pop-up content for Internet video, (think an online, ad-driven version of MTV’s pop-up video) and Revision3 is now planning to use VideoClix in some of its online shows, starting with a premier VideoClix-enabled episode of Diggnation.

Since advertisers have been slobbering over the idea of interactive advertising for a decade or more, I was anxious to hear how well VideoClix is working for Revision3. Disappointingly, there’s no answer on that yet. Not only is Revision3 not releasing specifics on that front (not surprising with only one VideoClix-enabled show up), but it turns out VideoClix, at this point, is just a piece of spaghetti that Revision3 is throwing at the proverbial wall. According to Louderback, Revision3 is a leader in product placement, online video sponsorships and is even part of Google’s early-stage Adsense-for-video program. In other words, while the company definitely likes VideoClix, Revision3 is hardly betting the farm on it. The company is really just trying something new and hoping it makes some money.

As a consumer, I haven’t remotely made up my mind about VideoClix either. The Diggnation demo is very cool, but in a novelty kind of way, not an I-want-this-on-all-my-TV-shows kind of way. I can see an ongoing appeal for non-fiction shows like Diggnation, but I think I’d find the feature highly irritating while watching, for instance, Battlestar Galactica. I really don’t want to know that I can get Starbuck’s boots at LL Bean. (My suspension of disbelief is stretched far enough with BSG, thank you…)

Despite not giving me any reason to believe that VideoClix is the one great answer to the problem of monetizing Internet video, Louderback did provide some heartening stats on Internet advertising in general. For example, viewers of Revision3 shows have very high unaided recall rates of sponsored products and companies. And, according to Louderback, 48% of viewers have purchased a product or service from one of Revision3’s sponsors.

In addition, without being able to provide any details, Revision3 is apparently pretty happy with VideoClix. The company was planning one VideoClix-enabled show monthly, but is now thinking of upping that number.

So has the Internet finally made interactive television advertising possible? It’s not clear. The answer is probably yes for certain kinds of entertainment and no for others. Sometimes interactivity is good. And sometimes I just want to watch my TV… even on the Internet.

If you’re a heavy user of Netflix’s streaming movie service “Watch Now,” you may have run into the Netflix-imposed restriction of registering a maximum of three computers. Attempting to install and use Netflix Watch-Now on a fourth computer will most likely result in an error having you to contact customer service for another “key.” This hack has been around on the forums for a while now, but Tech-Recipes today posted the simple how-to on getting around the limitation without needing to contact Netflix Customer Support.

If your wondering how one would ever need to use Netflix Watch Now on more than three computers then consider this scenario: I have three HTPCs at home, one laptop from work that goes with me everywhere, my daughter’s laptop and my wife’s laptop. Any of those computers are likely to access Netflix Watch-Now at any time to pick up a show or movie.

The workaround for this is pretty simple involving a registry hack and a few additional steps. Check it out at Tech-Recipes.com. I’ve tried it on a fourth PC and it worked perfectly.

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.

As TiVo often does (to soften the blow?), they’re putting our a release to coincide with an earnings call… Amazon Unbox doesn’t offer Disney digital downloads, so TiVo’s gone behind their back and worked an additional VOD deal:

Titles will be available to rent through an agreement with Disney-ABC and CinemaNow, a digital entertainment provider of high-quality Hollywood movies and TV shows across multiple platforms, and the latest partner to join TiVo’s broadband efforts. The companies will offer the movies for a 24-hour rental period in standard definition, with many also available in high definition. The service is available to all broadband-connected TiVo Series2™ and Series3™ subscribers later this year.

More content is a good thing, but as it is TiVo’s menus have gotten too cluttered (and the HME/Java UI is too slow). What we need is a speedier, unified front-end to drive all video download options (and a speedier, unified Swivel Search comprised of existing search options plus the Wishlist). If I’m ordering direct from the TiVo box, it shouldn’t matter to me if TiVo, Amazon, Jaman, CinemaNow, or someone else is providing the content. One shouldn’t need to visit separate areas to ferret out a Disney or independent film title. Let’s hope this all gets a facelift with the next software update.

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Being The Cable Show, there were plenty of booth stunts at last week’s event in New Orleans. Among them was FOX’s display of beds (yes, mattresses) with large-screen TV projections. See the video above for a quick look. It was shot by a partner in crime (Thanks, Amy!), and that is me you see taking photos in the clip.

Monsoon, makers of the HAVA placeshifting line, announced they’ve got a Symbian S60 client in the pipeline. The free software is expected to enter beta by the end of June, shooting for a fall release. However, take the timing details with a grain of salt… as their Windows Mobile client has been in beta well over a year.

Being a placeshifting free agent these days, I tried applying to the beta but they’re not quite ready for applicants - my email inquiry to hava-s60@monsoonmultimedia.com bounced.

S60 is a solid platform (I love my N95) and something Monsoon has to hit to be competitive with Sling’s mobile offerings, but Nokia’s Linux tablet (N800/N810) appeals to the geek in me on a much different level. So I’m especially interested in checking out that recently annouced flavor of HAVA client. I wasn’t able to track it down at CTIA, but we’ll see what I can do through PR channels.

Is anyone else finding they have more Internet-connected devices now? Not gadgets where you can surf the Web, like a smart phone, but gadgets that access the Internet for a dedicated purpose. For example, my Slacker Portable radio has a Wi-Fi connection for refreshing my music stations. My Squeezebox connects to the Net for streaming live music. I’ve seen the idea touted in PowerPoint presentations for years: “Everything will be connected! Everything with have an IP address!” But this is the first time I’ve looked around and seen the prediction coming true in my own gadget life.

The trend doesn’t stop with music players either. Take the new ESPN tvCompass remote, or various widget stations that, admittedly, haven’t gained much traction yet. We’re not seeing the long-fabled Internet-connected toasters yet (at least not in my neighborhood), but more and more IP devices are hitting the market.

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs:

• Netflix Hires Vista MediaCenter Netflix Plugin Developer: Brent Evans Geek Tonic
• 1 Terabyte with the Motorola DCH Set-Tops: Connected Home 2 Go
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Review: The Daleisphere
• CBS Facing Tribal Council On The Next Survivor, Goodwill Island: Davis Freeberg’s Digital Connection
• Advertising in Cable - Where Do We Go from Here: Connected Home 2 Go

On Tuesday May 27, 2008 between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm, the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa, and other prominent supporters such as Michael Geist, will be sponsoring a Net Neutrality Rally on Canada’s Parliament Hill.

The net neutrality rally is intended to foster greater Internet competition, innovation and consumer rights:

1. Canadian Competition:

• To stop vertical market leveraging at the expense of new entrants
• To prevent incumbent cable/telco duopoly control of the Internet

(see, for example Geist’s Bell’s Throttling Plan a Threat to a Competitive Net)

2. Canadian Innovation:

• To promote an environment conducive to the development of new and innovative content and web services by Canadian entrepreneurs

3.  Canadian Consumer Rights:

• to promote ISP transparency
• to promote consumer privacy
• to demand that ISPs provide the advertised Internet access services that Canadian consumers pay for

If you live in the Ottawa/Hull area, please participate.

For more information see my net neutrality topic on my iMedia law blog. For a good primer, see Prof Ed Felten’s ‘Nuts and Bolts of Net Neutrality‘.

Dale Dietrich is a Toronto-based technology, video game, and interactive media attorney. Read more at The Daleisphere.