This is exactly why we built what we did and more specifically -how- we did. We looked at what YouTube had done, what we had done in the past, and where things are (imo, obviously) heading. This is why we take a multipronged approach. We have the flash on-site, as well as the embed. We also prepare m4v's. We also syndicate the original files. I think, so far at least, we've got the most bases covered. Obviously, in all things, the more you abstract the more you miss the high-end extremes. That being said, we're obviously at a stage where we're building out our capabilities, and refining things.
I love blip, I *personally* think it's great, and I'd love to give feedback if/when they update their UI. That being said, their concept (as-is) doesn't extend down into the mainstream *right now* -- which is why the space is filling up like it is, in the manner it is. I do *NOT* want vSocial being "viral" videos, reposted jokes and boobies. That's not what I think will drive this space into the mainstream and change things. However, being that there's a disconnect between what creators want, and what viewers/users want, that will occur. So I guess I'll throw this back -- YouTube did things their way, which obviously wasn't ideal for this group, to the end that they went (broadest end-user base.) I'd love to work with the other providers in this group to standardize the way we do some of the things we do. Maybe a videoblogging-apps group? Not sure the best way to go about it, but there are better ways to do things without having to sacrifice the accessability of things, which is the end towards which we're shooting. Bill Streeter wrote: >I'm experimenting with them, and here is how I think I can best use >them, baring the fact that they change their business model. > >I invariably get complaints that people don't have or want or can't >get a current version of QuickTime to view my videos. So I've been >looking for a solution to make my stuff more accessible while >retaining QT as my main distribution format. I've tried encoding >mp4s without the QuickTime wrapper but doing that loses the >advantage of QuickTime has to download and play at the same time. So >what to do? I had thought of maybe setting up another blog with >alternative formats on it and a separate RSS feed, but that seems >too complicated. So what other solutions are there? > >Well flash, of course. The advantage of flash video is that it's >probably the most compatible format there is for Internet viewing. >Of course the disadvantage is that it's not easy to create a flash >video, and it's not easy to download, and it's not compatible with >any portable player (at least the popular ones) and aggregators >cannot easily pick it up. But it is good for displaying video on a >web page that can be read by a high number of users because it has >such a large install base. > >So here is the solution that I'm tinkering with. And this is not my >final idea about this, but it's an idea I'm experimenting with. >YouTube encodes everything in Flash, and they allow you to easily >embed clips into your page by cutting and pasting a bit of code. So >what I am doing is making the YouTube stuff as a kind of the >playable thumbnails for my vlog posts and offering a high bit rate >encoded QuickTime file for download and for my feed subscribers in >the same post. I think it should work because I think flash video is >ignored by feedburner as an enclosure if you set your feed to ignore >everything but video files—this may not be the case with all servers >but it seems to be the case on the one I'm using. The advantage >being that I can service my feed subscribers with a good quality >ipod compatible QT file and casual browsers of the site or the >QuickTime disabled can get the instant gratification of Flash video. > >Now the only drawbacks to this that I can see is that all my >thumbnails are branded with the YouTube logo. And the Quality of the >encoding by YouTube. And the possibility that YouTube might change >it's business model and screw the entire system up. > >I can deal with the logo for now, and the low bitrate encoding. It's >an worthy trade off for me to provide those on slower connections >access to my work. But the possibility that YouTube might start >embedding ads into my work, or charging for their service are things >I expect to have to deal with at some point. I may end up just >creating the flash movies myself. But for now YouTube is a bit more >convenient than that. > >So that's my answer to how I use YouTube. I don't love it but I find >it useful for the time being. > >Bill Streeter >LO-FI SAINT LOUIS >www.lofistl.com > > > > >--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Verdi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >>YouTube Receives $3.5M in Funding From Sequoia Capital >>http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=100442 >> >>Can someone explain YouTube to me? I don't get what people like >>about this service. They have crappy transcoding, they brand >> >> >your > > >>videos with their logo, they try to lock you into their website, >> >> >you > > >>can't syndicate your videos via rss, and they still haven't >> >> >changed > > >>their crazy terms of use where you basically give your work away >> >> >to > > >>them. >> >>Can someone who uses this service explain what they like about >> >> >it? > > >>Do you not care about these points that I bring up? Why not use >>another free alternative like Ourmedia or Blip? >> >>I don't get it. >>Verdi >> >> >> >>-- >>Me: http://michaelverdi.com >>R&D: http://graymattergravy.com >>Learn to videoblog: http://freevlog.org >>Learn to videoblog in person: http://node101.org >> >> >> > > > > > > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > -- Brad Webb, Director of Social Media Technology http://vslabs.vsocial.com/ vSocial | Custom One Media, LLC 51 W. Third Street, #301 Tempe, AZ 85281 (602) 885-2295 - Mobile (480) 967-9575 - Fax ------------------------ Yahoo! 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