Oprah Loves Skype, Her Viewers Don't
Oprah entered into a marketing agreement with the service earlier this year and, yesterday, devoted an entire episode to it. Beyond that, she seems to use Skype almost daily on her show -- often to host guests and take questions from viewers. But many of those viewers who aren't using the service are complaining on message boards and the like, saying things like "the audio is awful" and "the picture quality is lame."
We have to agree: this day and age we expect our programming in HD. Even though Skype does have a HQ (High Quality) feature, you have to have a special Web cam to make it work, and it's not true HD. While we can make do with a little Skype here and there to talk to our family for free, watching it on our 40-inch flat screen is a bit much -- not that we'd ever admit to watching 'Oprah,' of course. [From: CNN]
Oprahs Favorite Tech Things
There's no doubt about it, Oprah loves technology. It seems as though every time we catch her show, Winfrey has another cool gadget in her hand. One thing's for sure: Whatever Oprah likes, Oprah hypes, which means that everything from high-def refrigerators to e-book readers have received a significant boost from the queen of talk's coverage. Here's a round-up of her favorite tech things.
Getty Images
Kindle Lovin'
We agree with Oprah that the Amazon Kindle is pretty great, but do we have the power to give the entire world $50 off on the device after calling it our "new favorite, favorite thing in the world?" Nope. But Oprah sure does!
Twitter
Gadgets aren't the only tech that Oprah loves. She's recently been on a bit of a social-networking kick. On April 17, Oprah joined Twitter. That day, the site had a 43-percent increase in traffic. Now that's power.
Samsung HD Camcorder
Every year, Oprah kicks off the holiday season with a list of her favorite things. Back in 2007, she was all about the Samsung SC-HMX10C HD Camcorder. She loved it so much, she gave one to every person in her studio audience.
Flip Camcorder
Back in 2007, Oprah already had her own YouTube channel, so what was she using to film behind the scenes clips for it? Why, the Pure Digital Flip Ultra camcorder of course!
LG HDTV Refrigerator
You thought that giving away a Samsung HD camcorder was generous? At the conclusion of 2007's "Favorite Things" episode, Oprah outdid herself by giving her whole audience refrigerators from LG with built-in, digital-recipe-equipped LCD HDTVs. Each one cost nearly $4,000.
Digital Keychain
In addition to loving tech, Oprah also loves President Obama. In the days after the election, Oprah sported a little digital keychain that counted down the days until Obama's inauguration. We want one that counts down to the next iPhone release.
Nintendo Wii
Most of the time, we see Oprah's gadget love on display on her television show. We were pleasantly surprised when we came across this picture of the O buying a Nintendo Wii and two games in a Hawaii Wal-Mart. We bet she kicks ass at 'Mario Cart.'
Garmin GPS
Oprah's always looking for another excuse to show off cool tech. When describing a road trip she took with her friend Gayle, she whipped out a Garmin Nuvi 250 GPS Device -- because Oprah doesn't get lost.
Skype
Long before she devoted an entire show to Skype, Oprah was a frequent user of the Internet phone and video chat service. Since March 2008, Oprah has answered viewer questions on the air and interviewed guests using the service. Pretty impressive, but we're still waiting on her Firefox and Ubuntu Linux episodes.
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MrsMommy said 3:12PM on 5-22-2009
JUST MAKE OPRAH GO AWAY.......PLEASE!!!
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trizone said 12:34PM on 5-25-2009
Sorry, she has not made enough billions yet! Imagine our world... Oprah and Donald Trump telling us how best to live our lives!!
Bryan said 3:16PM on 5-22-2009
i use skype everyday with my girlfriend. Not sure what I would do without it. I hate talking on the phone and this makes it so much better. Yes picture quality is not the best but hey, it'll do for 3 months when classes start again.
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jim said 3:37PM on 5-22-2009
Alot better sites then Skype out there... Paltalk is one...works better and so does yahoo messager...
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Owen Uridge said 6:52PM on 5-22-2009
I don't watch her show a lot, but when I stumbled upon an ep with her holding what looked liked a Vado or Mini HD camcorder, filming someone standing 4 feet in front of her, I couldn't stop laughing. Do we really need to see her
"first person" view of a guest standing in front of her? God, I hope she retires soon. I'm sure another show chronicling her losing 100 pounds is right around the corner.
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Brian said 8:55PM on 5-22-2009
Are you kidding me? So it's not the best quality in the world. Think about it though. We can talk to anyone, anywhere at anytime. Just stop and think about how amazing that is.
When I hear about this type of griping, it takes my mind back to this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jETv3NURwLc
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whackoliberal said 7:27AM on 5-25-2009
The "Oprah" is one of the main reasons that Lord Obama is in "Da House, baby."
All she had to do is make a veiled threat that not voting for him would be racist, and every white barefoot, and pregnant housewife in America ran, walked, waddled, or wheeled themselves to the polls to vote for Darth Barak Obama.
She is one of the biggest racists on tv. She makes a KKK Grand Dragon say "Damn!!!"
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dilligaffudems said 8:10AM on 5-25-2009
is anyone else repulsed by this racist fat pig?
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crimson230 said 10:10AM on 5-25-2009
I don't watch Oprah or subscribe to her dogma. I don't need her to tell me what books to read, whom to vote for, or, now, what phone service to use.
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NORMA C. said 11:37AM on 5-25-2009
Amen to that.
donny said 12:17PM on 5-25-2009
I agree with crimson, don't like Oprah or her values.
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trizone said 12:20PM on 5-25-2009
Oprah, why don't you discover your own planet, name Planet O and take Gayle with you?
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Helen said 12:33PM on 5-25-2009
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK SKYPES IS GOING TO BE FREE??????????
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bchrissie123 said 1:02PM on 5-25-2009
I agree with you, trizone. I'm so tired of the all-knowing Oprah.
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Patrick said 3:40PM on 5-25-2009
Always amazed at the snarkings by those that profess to NOT watch nor want to watch Oprah but sure that they hate anything she connected with....NOT very rational , bit by bit or prhap make that bite by bite (or buyte by byte)...She offers info to many , and over hyped that all absolutely MUST do as she says which IF they did, she being one that implores to think for themselves would say that that would indeed be too much for any to proscribe to. She does many good deeds , ha managed to be quite successfull and that perhaps is the real crux of many of the matterings that just MUST snark attack as comes off as petty and more jealosuly based. She is not out to force YOU into anything, get over it and if NOT to your liking, the world hers or yours will NOT crash but allow respectfully others to enjoy if they do so desire. The nastiness gets so OLD and is but boorish !!!
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betty weldon said 7:42PM on 5-25-2009
I AGREE THAT WE DO NOT NEED OPRA, WHOM I DO NOT WATCH AT ALL. WE DO
NOT NEED TRUMP, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET DR. PHIL. I AM CAPABLE OF MAKING
MY OWN DECISIONS, I DON'T NEED ANY OF THEM TO RULE MY LIFE JUST BECAUSE THEY THINK SOMEBODY DIED AND LEFT THEM IN CHARGE.
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omni1953 said 11:14AM on 5-26-2009
This is another one of those W.G.A.F.
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PfeLa6 said 12:41AM on 5-27-2009
Oprah is America !
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venturamickey said 1:56PM on 5-26-2009
Is Oprah part owner of AOL? PLEASE ENOUGH OPTAH THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE WORTH DOING A STORY ON.
OH AND NOT OBAMA EITHER ENOUGH OF HIM ALSO.
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Kate said 9:04PM on 5-26-2009
The most telling part of this article is Oprah has entered in to a "marketing agreement" with Skype!! That's why a full hour was devoted to the product. Oprah is being PAID to promote Skype. I literally can't stand that woman! Or Obama! Or Michelle Obama. Or Whoopie.... all are black racist creatures.
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