News 2.0: Because yesterday’s newscasts didn’t jump out of the TV and demand your undivided attention

I read an absurd story (here) today about how CNN will use advanced holographic technology to present election night coverage, allowing Obama and McCain strategists to appear to be in a room with Wolf Blitzer, when they are really in two separate cities.  This will either be remarkably cool, or bafflingly pointless.  We will find out.  One thing I do certainly find cool, though, is MSNBC peddling of what it calls ‘Newsware’.  This is not new (it started earlier this year), but today I very briefly tried out the ‘Spectra’ web browser-based news visualiser, and the ‘NewsSkimmer’ news screensaver.  They are both rather impressive, with nifty 3D animations, and, thankfully, a very minimalist and generally well-designed look.  Unfortunately, my 1.67 GHz G4 PowerBook, with 512 MB memory, isn’t fast enough to play the animations smoothly, but its still rather nice.  More info, and free downloads, at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23781733/