A little bit on the new site, gdgt
So we’re calling the new site gdgt (spoken as four letters, like g-d-g-t, but you can say “gadget” if you like), and we’ve still got our work cut out for us before we have a proper launch. But there was one thing Peter and I knew we had to take care of early on, something a lot of people made abundantly clear they felt was missing: we had to get our show back on the air.
It’s been a year since we hung up our mics at Engadget, but we’re finally back with our new gadget podcast, gdgt weekly! The first episode’s already up, so head over to gdgt to grab it / subscribe. Oh, there’s another bit, too.
We’re also announcing our first two advisors to gdgt, two good friends of mine: Josh Topolsky, editor of Engadget, and Brian Lam, editorial director of Gizmodo. Yeah, I know, just blew your mind: people from Engadget and Gizmodo collaborating on something. Together. Of course, the reality isn’t all that weird when you think about things.
It may not have shone through in the various articles trumping up the Engadget / Gizmodo rivalry, but believe it or not, Brian Lam and I are actually pals outside of work — have been for years. In fact, a side story neither of us ever told publicly was that I actually tried to hire Brian when he was on his way out of Wired, just before Gawker snagged him for Giz. I pitched hard, but in the end, as he put it recently, “It wouldn’t have been as much of a challenge.” Of course, he was totally right — he accepted the greater challenge and put Gizmodo back on the map.
Josh, of course, is one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met — someone with a natural eye for content and gadget world, who I’m totally proud to have take over as Engadget’s editor in chief. So maybe it’s time to look at this space a little more holistically; or, as Brian said, get some Voltron action going on.
Wonderful, I am heading over to subscribe to the podcast now! Without having listened yet, I hope you guys incorporate interviews with tech luminaries. With your combined clout, you can bring in folks that others may not be able to. Good luck!
Comment by Vance — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 10:35 am
Of course you found a way to work Optimus into the first episode. You need to design a gdgt button for the Maximus.
Comment by Niall Kennedy — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 10:49 am
I hope to see “gadget lifestyle” stuff on gdgt. Cool, interesting ways people are using ( misusing? ) tech, live coverage of those crazy launches of iPhones, new game consoles.
Congrats on the launch!
Comment by Todd — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
A little late but I wanted to wish you good luck with your new endeavor (not that you need it). I never usually comment but just wanted to say thanks for making me laugh while reading the my daily geek speak. I really dig your wrting sytle. I read both Engadget and Gizmodo multiple times a day and I am eager to see what the Voltron force will bring.
Activate interlocks! Dyna-therms connected. Infra-cells up; mega-thrusters are go! Let’s go voltron force!
Comment by Paulo — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
Great news. I suppose as you said at engadget, we”re going to see something different here. Perhaps where engadget is the quick and dirty this will be a bit more in depth, yet complimentary? I’m especially looking forward to the podcasts.
Comment by Dale — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
I’ve been enjoying Engadget ever since I discovered and added it to my RSS reader around 2 years ago. Was hoping to meet some of you folks in person by a NY reader meetup. Maybe this year?
I’m with Dale - maybe some more in depth coverage of the more relevant gadgets; stuff we’re more likely to use at home or in business.
Best of luck with gdgt either way. Keep up the good work (& snark).
Comment by JoeH — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Awesome, so excited the podcast is back! Best of luck on your new endeavor! Looking for writers/collaborators at all? ;)
Cheers!
Comment by Ben Kessler — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
I’m downloading the podcast right now, and the RSS has been subscribed to. Can’t wait to see where this goes. I’m very excited.
Comment by Matt Hoult — Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 10:44 pm
[...] Gdgt - Former Engadget editors Ryan Block and Peter Rojas have soft-launched their new site titled gdgt. While it’s no surprise that it’ll be gadget-related, it is surprising that Brian Lam, the editorial director of Engadget-rival Gizmodo will be one of the site’s advisors. [...]
Pingback by Roundup: Google Chrome gains steam, Comcast goes against the FCC, Newspaper ad revenues plummet and more » VentureBeat — Friday, September 5, 2008 @ 2:56 am
i know you mentioned on your twitter about gadget.com being 10,000,000….
my friend owns and is selling egizmo.com - not a bad name!
I like gdgt though… especially when its pronounced g-d-g-t… real boss.
Comment by bob sakamano — Friday, September 5, 2008 @ 7:19 am
I just downloaded in iTunes and put it in my nano.
Comment by Dale — Friday, September 5, 2008 @ 8:54 am
I just heard about your company and was wondering if you guys are going public because iam interested in buying your stock. Keep me informed and good luck!
Comment by sean — Saturday, September 6, 2008 @ 7:35 am
Hey Ryan. Listened to you on TWIT this morning. Happy to here about you new endeavors, however when I try to check out GDGT.com, my Firefox crashes big time everytime the site finishes loading. I am using Ubuntu 8.04 with Firefox 3.0.1. Maybe my bad luck but I just wanted to give you a heads up.
Comment by Glenn — Monday, September 8, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
That’s really strange, it’s a very simple page! Haven’t heard it… have you tried with another browser and/or connection?
Comment by Ryan Block — Monday, September 8, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
Okay, I fired up my laptop in the other room (which also runs Ubuntu)and I can get on GDGT no problem. So, something is amiss on my desktop browser. Perhaps an extension is the culprit. I should have tried the laptop before giving you a shout but I had not had this issue until tonight. Anyway, I grabbed your podcast and look forward to listening to it on the way to work tomorrow.
Thanks for your response and keep up the good work.
Comment by Glenn — Monday, September 8, 2008 @ 5:59 pm
I just wanted to chime in, I love your work man, your podcast is amazing and I can’t wait for the next one. Just keep doing what your doing and gdgt is gonna be awesome.
Comment by Nik — Wednesday, September 10, 2008 @ 4:46 pm