I usually stream live sports using a software called SopCast, combined with resources from http://www.wiziwig.tv/. It is so far the best way I can find to stream sports online. The problem is: Sopcast is not available for Mac. Well, I find some solution but couldn’t make it work. Until today! And now I want to spread the workarounds (it’s free btw)

What do you need?

1. A Mac machine, of course
2. Winebottler. Download: http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/
3. X11. From my research, you can get X11 from your disc. If you are using Snow Leopard, you don’t need to install X11 since it is pre-installed.
4. Mozilla Firefox for Windows. Download: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/
5. Sopcast. Download: http://www.sopcast.com/download/
6. VLC Media Player for Windows. Download: http://vlc-media-player.en.softonic.com/

Steps:

1. First, you need to install WineBottler in your Mac. Simply drag the WineBottler icon to your Application folder

   

2. Install Mozilla Firefox using WineBottler. Do not install it as a stand alone application. Choose “Run directly in …” and click “Go”. Run the installer just like a normal Windows installer.

   

3. Similar to step #2, install Sopcast and VLC Media Player using WineBottler.
4. Now configure your Sopcast. Click “Options”. Change the external player to “Use your own external player”, and find VLC.exe in your fakeC drive.

   

   

DONE! Now, you can test-drive your Sopcast. Here is steps how to watch live sports using Wiziwig.tv:

1. Use your Windows Firefox to open http://www.wiziwig.tv/ website.
2. Find match you want to stream.
3. Check the station. If the software name is “Sopcast”, click the “play” link.

   

4. Your Sopcast application will run, but with a black screen. Click the left most icon to play in external player.
5. VLC will run, but stops after few seconds. To solve this, you have to ensure that your stream is being looped by simply toggle the “Loop All” button.

   

Other workaround
This workaround might work for those who can’t make the VLC in Windows opens after clicking the Sopcast link. You need to have VLC for Mac installed in your Mac OS X.

1. After clicking the Sopcast link, open your VLC for Mac. Do not close Sopcast that is running in your Wine.
2. Open File > Open Network. In the URL textfield, type: http://localhost:8902/tv.asf or http://127.0.0.1:8902/. Click Open. The stream should be started.

   

Happy streaming. Hope it helps Mac users who haven’t found a workaround for online streaming

Besides it is completely free, the best stuff about registering domain in Co.Cc is its free DNS service. DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain addresses into IP addresses. Instead of having to type xxx.xxx.xxx.x, it can be translated into www.fionaangelina.com. It is easier to remember the domain address than the IP address. In short with DNS service you can run Co.Cc domain just like other paid domain (as a main domain of your website, parking domain, or URL forwarding). Most free domain services only enable you to forward the domain to your actual website address.

Here are short guides to register your domain on Co.Cc:

1. Check the availability of your domain using the search box provided below:
   
2. Click the magnifier icon, and you may proceed the registration if the domain is available. There are several domains that are available but not provided for free. If your domain is not available, try other domain name.

Or, register the domain directly in Co.Cc website:

1. Go directly to http://www.co.cc/
2. Check the availability of your domain.
   
3. If your domain is available, proceed the registration.

Register now before your domain name is registered by other people! Good luck and best wishes

There are several reasons why I choose to read manga online though I still prefer hardcopy version:

• The always increasing price over time. The previously affordable mangas are becoming not-so-affordable. Well, it cannot be avoided but at least the presence of manga scanlation sites can save my cash. I can also save my cash by only reading titles I really like. I can try out to read some chapters online before deciding to buy it.
• No space available in my room. I have been collecting mangas since I was in 7th grade. I have thousands of books. Not only me, but also my siblings. The space is really limited while the number of mangas I want to buy is increasing. The manga scanlation sites help me to buy only some titles that I really love, so I can fulfill my thirst of reading while also keeping my room spacey.
• Lots of titles available and usually faster update. Sometimes several titles are not available yet in my native language and some of them were updated faster.
• The easiness to keep track of chapters. I actually want to buy the complete version of several titles, but it is hard to find a complete version in the bookstore if I did not follow the series from the beginning. Then it discouraged me to buy the hardcopy version, and instead I read it online.

For me myself, I will always buy titles I really like so the manga publishers should not worry about it. I only use manga scanlation sites to read what I call “mediocre series” and to let my curiosity answered so I can sleep well.

Please let the manga scanlation sites alive! :’(