CHANNEL FOCUS

By Ben Joseph (Magnify.net Intern and Certified Botanist)

I'm still amazed at the number of outstanding Magnify channels I stumble upon every day.  Since beginning my internship at Magnify in May, I've already seen the creation of roughly 3,000 new channels. While I particularly enjoy channels focusing on recent trends or events (iranlive.magnify.net, swineflu.magnify.net, susan-boyle.com), I've also seen incredible sites revolving around general interests and hobbies.

The channel guide is an excellent place to filter out your own personal tastes, with categories ranging from entertainment, business, travel, health, and even animals.  Just browsing through the various categories, I've discovered so many great communities building around my own interests.  Furthermore, the way in which these sites take advantage of the Magnify platform is astounding.  It's now easier than ever to incorporate Twitter feeds, Flickr modules and even RSS updates into your page.

Check out some of the channels I’ve found:

http://video.bicycling.com/

As an avid cyclist, I’ve found this site to be one of the best biking sources on the web. This Magnify powered page, accessible from the home page of bicycling.com, contains every type of video you can imagine. With a great global navigation module, users can easily direct themselves to videos about training, maintenance and repair, crashes, and even Lance Armstrong. Of course the site also contains a Twitter feed, where users give their up-to-date commentary on everything related to the biking site. 

http://bonnaroo.magnify.net/

After attending Bonnaroo last month, I’ve eagerly searched the web for videos surrounding the festival. YouTube was a great source, but I felt the content to be rather scattered and limited. This particular Magnify site features over 400 Bonnaroo videos and further organizes them into some great playlists. Not only can I find content revolving around this past festival, but the site contains individual playlists for news, bands, and even shows of years past.  As a bonus, there’s a great Flickr module that showcases thousands of photos from the event.  Also, be sure to check out the hilarious spotlight video of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.

http://cruiselines.magnify.net/

Last spring break I got hooked into the whole cruise experience. Now, whenever planning a vacation I find myself searching for new cruise deals. While most sites offer a great deal of information and detail, they are usually missing one crucial element – video.  I've found this site to be an amazing source when planning a trip. Not only does it contain navigation to all the large cruise lines, but it offers information on numerous destinations as well. This site differs from others, however, in that it features over 100 videos covering everything from tours, destinations, tips, and even trip advice.

http://classicalguitar.magnify.net/

What this site may lack in design and features, it absolutely makes up for in content. As a music enthusiast, I’ve found myself browsing through these videos for hours. The admin has done an incredible job of aggregating this content, and really succeeds in sticking to the theme of the site. You can find anything from Bach, Mozart and Haydn to more modern artists such as The Beatles, Clapton and Nirvana. The site features mostly fan covers; all performed surprisingly well, but also showcases some original music as well.  As an extra feature, the site also includes lessons, guitar advice, and even interviews with some of the original musicians. 

http://applyforjobsonline.magnify.net/

It’s no secret that the national economy is suffering. Each month we see new statistics emphasizing the break down of the financial structure and the failing job market.  As the unemployment rate continues to rise, hundreds of thousands of Americans search for jobs every day.  While most use sources such as Monster, Careerbuilder and Craigslist, others feel unaided in their search for the right job.  This particular site is a great source for those who feel overwhelmed in their job search.  The site hosts over 18,000 videos covering everything from available jobs, the economy, interview advice, and even friendly tips.  Additionally, the site features links to government, work-from-home, and even customer service jobs.