WebProNews

Tag: YouTube

  • 30-Year Old Hissy Fit Leads To Divorce

    30-Year Old Hissy Fit Leads To Divorce

    It sucks when you don’t get to do what you really want to do. It’s summertime, and everyone’s going to the lake, and when you’ve made plans to go have fun with your girls and get wild on the water, it’s so, so lame when your wet blanket of a husband decides he won’t take you because he has more important things to do. Like, grown-up stuff.

    This might have been the line of thinking one woman had during the last fight she ever had with her husband, Jim, who recorded the whole thing and posted it on YouTube. After telling her he had to use his day off to get things done around the house, she proceeded to throw a huge hissy fit that included kicking the sides of the car, screaming, pouting, cursing, and threatening to tell her friends how mean he was for refusing to do what she wanted to do.

    “Didn’t promise anything at all,” Jim said about the incident. “In fact, I had worked 60 hours that week and told her all week that Saturday was my day to get stuff done around the house. But as usual she threw a fit about it. She has broken doors off the jambs at our house…That was the last day I lived in our house. I have moved out and filed a restraining order against her.”

  • YouTube’s Paid Channels May Be Off to a Slow Start

    Back in May, after much speculation, YouTube finally unveiled their first-ever paid channels. Most costing a few dollars a month, the paid channels put exclusive content behind a paywall, ultimately changing an aspect of YouTube that users are quite comfortable with.

    Mainly, getting stuff for free as long as they can put up with some ads every now and then.

    And according to some of YouTube’s early partners in the venture, things haven’t really taken off as fast as they previously hoped.

    Variety quotes two high profile paid channel owners who both say that they’re a bit disappointed with the returns they’re seeing from their paid channels.

    “We had hoped to set the world on fire. We are not setting the world on fire right now,” said the National Geographic Society, who launched a paid kids channel back in May.

    “[It’s] working OK. Not amazing,” said Mark Cuban, who opened up AXS TV when the pilot program launched.

    It’s not all bad for YouTube’s paid channel initiative, however. Sesame Workshop claims to be “very happy” with the performance of their paid channels.

    “We’re in the early days of piloting paid channels. Just as the Partner Program empowered creators to take their channels to the next level, we look forward to seeing how creators bring new content to their fan communities on YouTube,” said YouTube in response.

    And YouTube is right about being in the early days. As of today, there are only 51 paid channels in the pilot program. They range from $0.99 a month to as expensive as $7.99 per month. Some channels even offer yearly subscriptions for as low as $24.99 a year or as high as $67.99 a year.

    YouTube will expand the initiative – when they’re ready. And opening up the program will vastly expand the type of content that is offered, meaning your average, everyday YouTube channel will eventually be able to but their content behind a paywall.

    “This is just the beginning. We’ll be rolling paid channels out more broadly in the coming weeks as a self-service feature for qualifying partners. And as new channels appear, we’ll be making sure you can discover them, just as we’ve been helping you find and subscribe to all the channels you love across YouTube. Just as the partner program empowered creators to take their channels to the next level, we look forward to seeing how this great community of creators moves ahead with a new way to reach the fan communities that made their channels a hit,” said YouTube when they first launch the paid channels pilot program.

    Will a better selection tempt users to buy into the paid model? That remains to be seen. Like any subscription-based service, people are only going to pay if they deem the content worth paying for.

    Plus, when most people think YouTube, they think free videos. Sure, you have to put up with ads – but the core appeal of YouTube has always been that it was free. Free hosting, free viewing. Other subscription videos services like Hulu and Netflix, as well as traditional cable options and HBO, never had to cross over the “free” barrier – those services always cost money from the get go.

    In order for YouTubers to pony up $7.99 a month for a channel subscription – those channels are going to have to offer some high quality content. Have you subscribed to a YouTube channel yet? Are you waiting for more options? Or are you the type of person who would never, under any circumstances, pay you watch a YouTube video?

  • Meta Alert: A Short Film of Films Inside Other Films

    What you’re about to see is a celebration of the movies at one of its most confusing, but oddly purest forms. It’s a compilation video of movies being featured in other movies.

    Do you remember when the prisoners in The Shawshank Redemption are watching Gilda? Yeah, that’s what we’re talking about here. This is just a lot of fun. Check it out:

    [Slacktory]

  • Google, Facebook And Twitter Train Mental Health Nonprofits On Social Media

    Representatives from Google, Facebook and Twitter got together for a big training session for mental health nonprofits in Washington D.C. this afternoon, and Google has put 2 1/2 hours worth of video from the event online for anyone interested to watch. The presentations discuss managing social media accounts, running social media campaigns, integrating with multimedia, and tracking analytics.

    “Nearly 45 million Americans are affected by illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia,” Google VP, Public Policy and Government Relations, Susan Molinari, said in a blog post. “Every day, thousands of nonprofit organizations across the country are providing critical life-saving assistance for people who increasingly turn to online communities for help.”

  • 12-Year-Old Clearly Explains Egypt Events

    12-Year-Old Clearly Explains Egypt Events

    A video of a 12-year-old boy explaining the recent events in the uprising in Egypt has gone viral.

    El Wady News recently interviewed young Ali Ahmed about why he was on the scene at the protests that led to the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi. Ahmed said, “I’m here today to help prevent Egypt from becoming a commodity owned by one person, and to protest the confiscation of the Constitution by one single party. We didn’t get rid of a military regime to replace it with a Fascist Theocracy.”

    The interviewer for El Wady News is incredulous. “I don’t even know what that means,” the reporter said.

    Ali Ahmed went on to explain, “Fascist Theocracy is when you manipulate religions and enforce extremist regulations in the name of religion, even thought religion doesn’t command that.”

    The reporter wanted to know how little Ahmed knew all this. His reply could be a wakeup call to most Americans when it comes to involvement in the political process.

    “I listen to people a lot, and I use my own brain,” he said. “Plus I read newspapers, watch TV and search in the internet.”

    Ahmed was asked a few more specifics about things that he thought needed to change in his country. The people had already ousted one president in the past 2 years. Why were they now railing against this one? Ahmed’s reply was thoughtful and informed.

    “The Police still jail people randomly. As for social justice, how can a news anchor get 30 millions Egyptian pounds while some people still pick food from garbage? Politically speaking, where is the Constitution that represents us? For example, women are half of the society. How come there are only 7 ladies in the Constituent Assembly, 6 of whom are Islamists?”

    He told the reporter that he had read an online draft of the Constitution that was proposed by the current government. He said that, while it may have some redeeming points in it, it was still underpinned by Islamic Law, which rendered its human rights provisions moot.

    “For example they say women are equal t men in all matters except in matters that contradict Islamic law, but then, Islamic law allows men to discipline their wives. This can’t work in society.I can’t beat my wife up and almost kill her, and then tell you this is discipline. This is not discipline. This is abuse and insanity.”

    The video is in Arabic, but many Arabic speakers have viewed it and vouch for the onscreen translation.

  • Google Makes New YouTube Channel Creation Easier For Those With Multiple Channels

    Google announced a new small but helpful feature for YouTube today. Now when you go to create a new channel, you’ll have the option to have it connected with a Google+ Page. This makes it easier for channel creators that already have other channels.

    As YouTube software engineer Brett Hobbs explains, “Previously, every channel you created needed to have its own Google account login. If you’re a creator that manages many channels, you might even have a spreadsheet to organize the various email addresses and passwords you use to log in to your channels.”

    “We made a significant improvement to the multiple channel management experience recently when we launched the option to connect your existing channels with a Google+ page,” he notes. “Google+ page connected channels have enhanced channel management features that allow you to manage up to 50 channels with a single login, and multiple individuals can manage your channel with their own logins.”

    Now with the new feature, things are just easier right from the start.

    Of course this also means that those who go to create YouTube channels for the first time will be encouraged to use a Google+ page, and that can’t hurt for Google+ usage.

    To create a new channel connected to a new Google+ Page, sign in, go to youtube.com/channel_switcher, and click Create New Channel. Then, provide a name for the channel and a Google+ page.

    To create a new channel connected to an existing Google+ page, sign in to a Google account that’s a manager or owner of the page, then go to the channel switcher page, and click the name and avatar of the Google+ page.

  • Fox News Host Nails ‘Trick Shot Titus’ in the Face – or Brian Kilmeade Makes Toddler Cry on National Television

    It didn’t take long for “Trick Shot” Titus Ashby, the toddler with amazing basketball skills, to make his way from YouTube star to national sensation. He’s taken his unique over-the-head shot all over the talk show circuit, impressing millions with his incredible accuracy.

    Nothing can stop him! Except maybe a ball to the face.

    Here’s Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade nailing Trick Shot Titus in the nose and making him cry on national television. For shame, Kilmeade, for shame.

    It’s ok. When he grows up, Titus will always have this epic moment to look back on with a smile:

  • YouTube Launches First Major Update To PS3 App

    YouTube has launched an update for its PS3 app bringing the “send to TV” feature that pairs the console with a phone or tablet. The update also adds smoother video playback and less buffer through adaptive bitrate streaming.

    It’s the first major update since the app was launched last August. Here’s what YouTube said about it in a Google+ post:

    YouTube

    YouTube18 hours ago

    Thumbs need a break from saving the world from zombies, and want to catch up on the latest PewDiePie videos? The updated YouTube app for Playstation 3 now has the send to TV feature that automatically pairs your phone or tablet with your PS3 on the same Wi-Fi network. Open YouTube on your PS3, click the TV icon on your YouTube app for Android or iPhone, and the video starts playing instantly on your big screen. It’ll be like the same awesome feeling you had when you played Metal Gear Solid for the first time. For bonus points, we also made videos play more smoothly and with less buffering. Ok, now back to the zombies…

    753    54 Powered by socialditto

    The update is rolling out to all users today.

  • Soccer Hooligan Brawl Gets The David Attenborough Treatment

    A couple of weeks ago, a YouTube video of a soccer fan brawl hit the trend cycle. This one, however, isn’t just the traditional footage of fans pounding on each other in the stands until the security guards intervene. No, instead what we were treated to was an old-fashioned gang fight, but instead of rival neighborhoods fighting for turf, these were soccer fans of opposing teams meeting in the middle of street for some hand-to-hand combat fun. Posted by the Hooligan Wardrobe collective, the video has crossed viral boundaries.

    Check it out if you haven’t seen it already:


    According to the title, the hooligans in the fight are fans of GAIS Gothenburg and Helsingborgs IF (the red-clad individuals). While there are a lot of folks on screen, as far as YouTube fight videos go, this one is pretty tame. It hasn’t, however, stopped some soccer bloggers chastising the hooligans for further lowering the perception of soccer fans, calling the actions deplorable.

    Whatever your position on sports fans beating the crap out of each and videoing it for posterity, the video in question has indeed reached trend status. This, of course, means remixes are the next step, and lo and behold, we have a mash-up using the fantastic narration of David Attenborough to provide the play-by-play. The results are pretty spectacular:


    I have to be honest, I’m having a hard time telling if the narration is simply well-timed clips from previous Attenborough efforts or if someone is doing a damn good imitation. There is also a third possibility, but surely not, right? I mean, that’s not really Sir David Attenborough having a good time with some bored soccer fans is it?

    [Hat-tip and lead image courtesy]

  • Zach Braff Helps Guy Propose, Removes All Chance of Her Saying No

    Another day, another jerk making us all look bad by staging an elaborate marriage proposal and then putting the whole thing on YouTube.

    But seriously, this one’s pretty cool. It involves Zach Braff, some pets, some friends, some family, and a song. Cute.

    “I wanted to think of a really cool way to propose to my girlfriend, Janice, and this song and video is what I came up with. I wanted to show her that not only do I love her but that she’s loved by all our friends and family too. This was particularly important as she hasn’t been able to see much of her family for 7 years since she moved to the UK and she misses them lots,” says Matt Hulbert.

    It looks like Hulbert roped Braff into helping him via Kickstarter pledge:

    “I managed to get Zach involved through Kickstarter when pledging an amount for his new film ‘Wish I Was Here.’ The team were SO kind and SO amazing they got his part of the video to me super early as they really liked the idea. Like me, Janice is a huge fans of ‘Scrubs’ so I knew it would blow her away,” says Hulbert.

    I guess that’s one way to propose – make it absolutely impossible for the girl to say no.

    [via reddit]

  • Google Makes Investment In VEVO, Renews Deal

    YouTube partnered with Universal and Sony back in 2009 for the launch of music video site VEVO. Since then, VEVO has been one of Google’s top YouTube partners, but with an expiration of that partnership looming, uncertainty has surrounded the future of YouTube’s partnership with the joint venture throughout 2013.

    That uncertainty can now be put to bed, as YouTube has renewed its deal with VEVO and taken a stake in the company. TechCrunch reports that YouTube has confirmed this, and shares the following statement from the company:

    “We made an investment in VEVO. We are excited by their future prospects and to provide YouTube users with the best possible music experience.”

    That last part is of particular importance, given how much people watch music videos on YouTube. If those went away, we’d be talking about a pretty substantial amount of YouTube views.

    Google did not mention the exact amount of its investment, but earlier this year, Billboard suggested it would be between $40 million and $50 million (something like a seven percent stake in the company). Likewise, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported in February that Google could invest $50 million in VEVO.

  • Here’s 18 Minutes of 2013’s Best YouTube Fails

    2013 is a little more than halfway over, and that means that idiots have had over 6 months to fail, record themselves failing, and post their videos of themselves failing on YouTube.

    There’s simply nothing like watching people bust their asses for 18 minutes. Really. It’s a beautiful thing. Almost beautiful enough to make you forget that it’s the Monday after a holiday weekend.

    Schadenfreude, baby.

    [via FailArmy]

  • 1984, As Explained by Thug Notes’ Sparky Sweets, PhD

    Sparky Sweets, PhD, is back you guys. As promised, the latest round of Thug Notes (Classic literature, original gangster) tackles George Orwell’s seminal classic 1984.

    “Yo, you know what else is wack? As the party recreates reality, eventually all your individual qualities get kicked straight to the curb. How’s a brother gonna know he exists if all he be is what the government tells him he be?”

    Couldn’t have said it better myself.

    [Thug Notes]

  • YouTube Finds Online Video Is Becoming Increasingly Important To Gamers

    If you’re a gamer, chances are you watch a lot of game trailers on YouTube. If you’re engulfed in gaming culture, you probably watch Let’s Plays and other forms of community created content on YouTube as well. Google now says that these videos are essential for publishers hoping to reach out to gamers.

    In a new white paper published on Google Think Insights, the search giant found that 95 percent of all gamers turn to YouTube to consume and engage content relevant to them. This rise in content consumption correlates with a rise in subscriptions to game channels and a rise in consumption on mobile devices:

    The rapid growth of game content consumption on YouTube suggests that it has become an important medium to gamers, providing them with information and entertainment. In 2012, the amount of time people spent watching gaming videos on YouTube more than doubled over the year before. The growth rate of time spent viewing gaming videos was greater than YouTube’s overall growth in the U.S.

    While time spent viewing gaming videos increased year-over-year in 2012, much of that growth was fueled by video consumption on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. In 2012, one in three views of gaming-related videos occurred on a tablet or smartphone, nearly double that of 2011.

    Also striking was that when gamers had more free time, they chose to spend it watching video. Weekends saw an 18% day-over-day increase in gaming views. Viewing spiked during the summer, with views in June growing by 17% month-overmonth, and remaining elevated throughout July and August.

    On an hourly basis, 32% of views occurred between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM, traditional prime time television hours. The increased consumption of gaming video was partially driven by growth of subscribers to game channels. Game views from subscribers jumped 9X year-over-year in 2012. Those who were subscribers watched game content for twice as long as non-subscribers.

    Google has clearly established that gamers watch a lot of video content on YouTube, but it also breaks down the kind of content being watched. It says that gamers watch seven types of video content, which includes announcement trailers, gameplay demos, launch trailers, game powered entertainment, tutorials, walkthroughs and reviews.

    Google broke down the above seven types even further into three categories – pre-launch, launch and post-launch. It found that 50 percent of video views come from the publishers, developers and press during the pre-launch period with announcement trailers taking up 24 percent of these views. At launch, only three percent of video views come from reviews.

    Unsurprisingly, the post-launch community created videos are incredibly popular. Walkthroughs and tutorials only make up a total of 8 percent of these post-launch views, but game powered entertainment (Let’s Plays, parodies and analysis) make up 39 percent of all game related views on YouTube. Google says that this community created content doubles the amount of views popular games would have otherwise received by only sticking to official channels.

    YouTube Finds Video Is Becoming Increasingly Important To Gamers

    In short, Google says that game marketers would be wise to acknowledge that gamers increasingly:

  • Rely on online video as a key source of game information and entertainment
  • Access a wide variety of content produced by both game companies and individuals that enables them to research games, advance through them, and engage with the gaming community
  • Watch online video whenever, wherever, and on whatever screen they want
  • Are an important driver of brand engagement, as they create, curate, and share content

    • All of the above information will certainly be welcomed by the Let’s Play community as they continue to argue that they’re now an integral part of any game’s presence online, and that publishers should let them collect ad revenue off of their videos despite using copyrighted content.

    [h/t: Game Informer]

  • ‘It Gets Worse’ Project Looks at Stand Up Comedy, the ‘Best and Worst Job’

    Comedians Dave Waite and Grant Lyon have created the “It Gets Worse” project, a parody of the popular “It Gets Better” LGBT project. Their series focuses on the jubilation felt by stand up comedians after their first performance and the subsequent spiral into the “reality of crying alone in a Red Roof Inn after a terrible road gig.”

    “The It Gets Worse Project’s mission is to communicate why being a stand up comedian is simultaneously the best and worst job in the country. Comedians submit themselves to constant abuse from audiences and their own inner demons, and yet they keep coming back, continually inspired to write new jokes and try new stages. They are either noble artists or complete idiots,” says its creators.

    Here are a few more episodes:

    [via Laughing Squid]

  • YouTube Celebrates LGBT Pride with Touching Video

    Not only is June LGBT pride month, but yesterday the Supreme Court made a huge decision that bolsters gay rights and marriage equality by striking down the controversial Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional.

    In honor of all that, YouTube wants everyone to know that they support the cause, and look forward to helping the LGBT community share their stories for years to come.

    “Since our first upload, YouTube has strived to give everyone a voice. Over the past eight years, we’ve been inspired and amazed by the ways that people have used YouTube to broadcast their message, empower their community, and even catalyze social change,” says YouTube Entertainment and LGBT Marketing head Raymond Braun.

    “At YouTube, we’re proud to stand with the LGBT community to support equal rights and marriage equality–we believe that everyone has the right to love and be loved. Pride Month may be coming to a close, but we hope YouTube is a place where you can feel proud and build a community all year long.”

    Over the years, YouTube has been one of the main places for the LGBT community to share their trials and tribulations with the world. Years ago, YouTube started to fill up with coming out videos, and YouTube has been the host of plenty of LGBT campaigns – such as the famous “It Gets Better” initiative.

    YouTube has made a video in celebration of LGBT pride. Check it out below:

  • YouTube Explains Copyright In The Best Way Possible

    Copyright law is confusing. Even lawyers have trouble grasping copyright law, so it stands to reason that regular ol’ content producers on YouTube would have trouble as well. Don’t worry – YouTube and its puppet pals are here to help.

    Yes, you heard that right – puppets. The YouTube Help channel recently uploaded a “YouTube Copyright Basics” video starring a colorful cast of puppets that help explain the core concepts of copyright law and how to avoid infringing said copyright on YouTube.

    The above video explains how to file a copyright complaint, how to file a dispute, the difference between manual takedowns and content ID takedowns, and fair use. It’s also really funny.

    If you want to know more about the importance of copyright on YouTube, check out YouTube’s copyright center.

    [h/t: boing boing]

  • YouTube Is Streaming Wimbledon Starting Monday

    YouTube Is Streaming Wimbledon Starting Monday

    This year, with the help of Rolex, YouTube is set to be your exclusive source for live streaming at Wimbledon.

    The Wimbledon Championships, the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, is set to kick off on Monday, June 24th, and YouTube says that they will be there for live streaming tennis as well as a bunch of bonus content.

    As of today, the YouTube Wimbledon channel is packed with interviews, past highlights, and more.

    From YouTube:

    This year, supported by Rolex, Wimbledon’s YouTube channel will have exclusive access throughout The Championships on Live @ Wimbledon.

    Catch the key moments of the tennis, interviews, behind the scenes and press conferences throughout the Wimbledon fortnight. You can also relive all the glory days of Wimbledon’s golden moments, such as one of the greatest matches ever played, the 2008 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final: Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer.

    On the men’s side, Roger Federer will be defending his title this year, and on the women’s side it’ll be Serena Williams.

  • Meet Thug Notes, the Best Classic Literature Discussion on YouTube

    “Jem’s crippled ass is a metaphor for America’s jacked-up justice system. Jem f*ckin’ up his arm so young is one of them synecdoches for a country that was born with backward-ass ideas. Now, that sh*t might heal, but it gonna leave a disablin’ scar on the nation, and ain’t no amount of cocoa butter gonna make that sh*t go away.”

    That’s the kind of deep analysis you’ll find in Thug Notes – “Classic literature, original gangster.”

    Sparky Sweets puts his spin on some of our best-loved classics, from Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s like cliff notes, but a whole lot better.

    He’s just getting started, so check out his first three thug notes below:

    According to Sparky Sweets, we can expect a breakdown of Orwell’s 1984 to drop pretty soon. Now that I’m excited about.

  • Vine Sees Near YouTube-Level Engagement on Twitter

    If you’re a brand who’s looking to expand its social media strategy – you better give Vine a look if you’re not already.

    New data from SocialBakers suggests that Twitter users are almost as likely to engage with your Vine videos as they are to engage with any YouTube videos you post.

    They looked at average engagement rates of tweets containing both YouTube videos and Vine videos, posted by targeted brands in the past month or so. What they found was that Vine is fast approaching YouTube in terms of content that’s getting the clicks from Twitter users.

    “Tweeted YouTube videos earned a 0.048% Engagement Rate. Compare this to Tweets containing Vine uploads which earned a 0.031% Engagement Rate. That means in the six months since Vine was introduced to social media, it has almost caught up to YouTube uploads on Twitter in terms of engagement. This is amazing considering that for most of its life, Vine was only available on iPhones and iPads,” says SocialBakers.

    And they’re right. Vine just launched an Android app around two weeks ago. At that time, they reported 13 million registered users. Vine is definitely the new kid on the block, but it’s definitely making an impression.

    Vine is not only seeing a high level of engagement – but it’s also simply seeing a higher level of exposure on Twitter. Last week, Vine video shares surpassed Instagram photo shares for the very first time. That’s even more incredible when you think about the active user discrepancy between the two – 13 million registered users vs. 100 million monthly active users, respectively.

    Sure, Instagram and Twitter had a falling out and Instagram photos are no longer displayed in Twitter’s expanded tweets – but still, you can’t deny Vine’s quick influence in the social sphere.

    Vine may even have Facebook (who owns Instagram) scared. Rumors indicate that Facebook may be gearing up to unveil short video capabilities, akin to Vine, for Instagram.

    Brands are already using Vine to expand their social media reach. One example of the best use comes from Lowe’s, who has been posting 6-second how-to videos for months now. They’re pretty awesome.

  • Google Gives Businesses New Dashboard

    Google Gives Businesses New Dashboard

    Google announced the launch of a new Google+ Dashboard, which is designed to help businesses manage their presence across Google properties, including Google+, AdWords, Google Maps, YouTube, etc.

    Google’s Pavni Diwanjhi made the announcement in a Google+ post in which she said, “Today millions of businesses use Google+ to connect with their customers in meaningful ways. Many of these businesses also use AdWords to promote their products; Maps to update store info; and YouTube to publish high-quality video content (to name a few). We want to make it easier to manage your online presence – all across Google – so today we’re getting started with Google+ Dashboard.”

    When you sign in to your Google+ Page, you can update your info like website URLs, store hours, phone numbers, etc. across all of Google from a single “Overview” tab.

    You can also monitor your Google+ notifications, assign page managers, share photos and videos and start hangouts with followers right from the dashboard.

    Local businesses can use the dashboard to access AdWords Express and Offers Campaigns, as well as insights like top searches for their business, top locations requesting driving directions and performance data for Google+ posts.

    Google will soon be adding further functionalities.

    When you log in to Google+ as your Page, you should see the dashboard icon in the navigation menu.