Tags: Google, trends, user-generated media, Warner Music Group, YouTube

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1. John Pemble December 22nd, 2008 7:15 pm :YouTube can benefit more from indy folks putting up their own videos which is how the site became so popular in the first place. The flash video world is getting bigger and there is enough room for a WB stream service just like Hulu. YouTube users can collectively continue to make a great service work with their own videos assuming they use good metadata. There are many not so great videos on YouTube but you can find great ones. I’m all about using YouTube for my own videos and for finding new ones. It doesn’t bother me that WB is leaving and it doesn’t bother me they’ll want items yanked for using their music. Producers need to find other music for their videos besides copyright music. I have found the synchronization rights issue (among others) not to be a roadblock but a pointer for me to find a solution that is more specific to my voice. My products come out better when I have to develop a workaround or find ways to use my existing material to make the vision work.”

Here’s a rundown of the changes, from YouTube’s announcement:

* Stricter standard for mature content - While videos featuring pornographic images or sex acts are always removed from the site when they’re flagged, we’re tightening the standard for what is considered “sexually suggestive.” Videos with sexually suggestive (but not prohibited) content will be age-restricted, which means they’ll be available only to viewers who are 18 or older. To learn more about what constitutes “sexually suggestive” content, click here.
* Demotion of sexually suggestive content and profanity - Videos that are considered sexually suggestive, or that contain profanity, will be algorithmically demoted on our ‘Most Viewed,’ ‘Top Favorited,’ and other browse pages. The classification of these types of videos is based on a number of factors, including video content and descriptions. In testing, we’ve found that out of the thousands of videos on these pages, only several each day are automatically demoted for being too graphic or explicit. However, those videos are often the ones which end up being repeatedly flagged by the community as being inappropriate.
* Improved thumbnails - To make sure your thumbnail represents your video, your choices will now be selected algorithmically. You’ll still have three thumbnails to choose from, but they will no longer be auto-generated from the 25/50/75 points in the video index.
* More accurate video information - Our Community Guidelines have always prohibited folks from attempting to game view counts by entering misleading information in video descriptions, tags, titles, and other metadata. We remain serious about enforcing these rules. Remember, violations of these guidelines could result in removal of your video and repeated violations will lead to termination of your account.

The changes make it harder to game the system with tricks like editing your video to create sexy thumbnails.

But the changes will also pose some new challenges to all posters. It will be harder to optimize your video’s thumbnail, because you can’t control what YouTube chooses for your thumbnail options. And, if your video features content that others consider suggestive or profane, it’s more likely to be buried on the site than before.

What do you think of the changes? Are the changes common sense - or censorship?”

Above from New Media Update

“The Flip Video is a simple camcorder for digital video made by Pure Digital Technologies. Variants include the Flip Ultra and the Flip Video Mino.

Flip Video-based camcorders are also sold under the RCA brand as the RCA Small Wonder line; they are basically similar to the Flip products, though some RCA-branded cameras add removable flash memory cards.

he Flip Video captures video in 640×480 resolution at 30 frames per second, using the MPEG-4 ASP video compression^[2]. It uses 2 AA batteries. Standard models lack a memory card extension slot but can be connected to a computer with a pop-out USB connector, without the need for a cable. It is simple to use, providing automatic gain, digital zoom, monophonic sound, and a very simple clip-navigation interface with a D-pad and two control buttons. Depending on memory size, the current (”Ultra”) model camera retails for US$130 (1 GB flash memory for about 30 minutes of video) or US$150 (2 GB flash memory).^[3][4] Most Flip cameras include the required video player and 3ivx codec software in the camera itself rather than providing an external CD-ROM installer. Accessories for the Flip Video camera include an underwater case, a tripod, a bicycle helmet attachment, and a velvet case…”  Wikipedia

I am not going to use my Kodak for doing videos from now on.  I plan to just try making videos with the Pro 9000 when I am in front of my computer and the Casio when I am away from the computer.  The more options I have and use the more confused I get.
When I find the best way of making videos I will post here how I do it and the settings.  Right now I am still testing.