The TechCrunch Guide To The Inauguration
by Erick Schonfeld on January 18, 2009

Whether you are headed to Washington for the Obama Inauguration or simply want to follow along online, there is no shortage of sites and applications dedicated to the national party on Tuesday, January 20. Of course, every major news site (ABC.com, CBS.com, MSNBC.com, Fox.com, CNN.com, NYTimes.com, WashingtonPost.com, etc) will have videos, photos, and reporting from the event. But the people lining the parade route will also be Twittering, uploading photos, and capturing video moments with their cell phones and video cameras. General information about the inauguration can be found at the sites for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Below is the TechCrunch Guide to the Inauguration, a collection of links and apps that will help you make the most out of the inauguration.

Where To Watch

There will be plenty of livestreams of the Inauguration at all the media sites mentioned above. Some of the sites offering livestreams include:

—Hulu: Will be streaming live, Fox.com will also be using Hulu’s stream.
—C-Span: Washington D.C.’s video standby will have four live feeds to choose from.
—CNN.com: Partnering with Facebook so you can see your friends’ status updates while watching.
—Current TV : Will add a Twitterstream to its coverage.
—Ustream.tv: This stream will also be available on your iPhone, great for those along the parade route too far away to see the main stage.
—Starbucks and movie theaters: For those who cannot make it to Washington, MSNBC is hosting screenings of the inauguration in movie theaters and Starbucks across the country (although it looks as though these are already sold out).
— Joost is also broadcasting the inauguration live.
—Obama Girl is streaming her coverage on Stickam.
— Kyte.tv has a special inauguration channel as well

Where To Stay

—CrashTheInauguration: If you are going to Washington, D.C. and still don’t have a room, you might find a couch to sleep on at CrashTheInauguration. And if you are lucky they might even serve you Obama O’s for breakfast.

Where To Share

—Twitter: Just search for “inauguration” or “Obama”. The chatter has already started.

— Check out Obama’s Inauguration blog on Tumblr at http://inauguration.tumblr.com/

—Flickr pool for Inauguration 2009.

—Users can get Twitter, Flickr, Change.gov, and YouTube updates to follow only the most interesting pictures, video, posts, and tweets about the election through Dipity.

—NPR Inauguration Report: Run by NPR’s social media desk, it will be collecting dispatches from spectators via Twitter, Flicr, YouTube, and text message. All Tweets or text messages that start with “#inaug09″ or “#dctrip09″ will be included in NPR’s feed, as well as Flickr photos and YouTube videos tagged “inaug09″ or “dctrip09.” There are also an accompanying iPhone and Android apps called IR09, Inauguration Report 2009 (more details here).

—CNN/Microsoft 3D Photosynth: People at the inauguration can upload their photos and Microosft will combine them into a 3D panoramic Photosynth (more details here).

—Citizen’s Briefing Book: Got a policy suggestion for the transition team? Submit one or vote for the best ones at Change.gov

—Where Were You?: A video contest sponsored by Memelabs that will let people share where they were on this historic day.

iPhone Apps and Follow-up

—Ustream.tv: Stream the inauguration to your iPhone (see above).

—Inauguration Report 2009: Submit your own report to NPR with text, photos, or audio. Reports post straight to NPR’s Inauguration feed (see above).

—PointAbout 2009 Presidential Inauguration Guide: Free app with a countdown to the inauguration, distance to the inauguration steps, and lets you navigate Washington, D.C. with maps of public transport, parking, free WiFi zones, and a Zagat’s restaurant guide for the city.

—CrashTheInauguration (same as above, but on your iPhone).

—Change (U.S.) Politics (iTunes link). Cast your approval rating of the Obama administration across 14 issues

—PolitFact’s Obameter: Obama made more than 500 promises during the election campaign. Track how many he keeps with the Obameter.

Know of more resources? Add them in comments.
(Photo by Anna Levinzon).

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