Citadel of the Blogs The Inbox of the Internet (really)

okay gamers, heads up: the hunt is on to find this man.

probably like 76 degrees of separate indifference, but who’s counting?

I have reviewed a few online services lately such as Wikibooks, del.icio.us, MySpace search and Facebook Search. For my Managing Internet Information Services class final report, I reviewed online video sharing services. The purpose is to stream storytelling videos in a public library context. But aside from the notes below which refer to “categories”, this info should be of interest to all.

Not all online video services are equal: some offer more functionality than others. In order to assess which, if any service, is best, I reviewed the following video-sharing services:

• Google Video http://video.google.ca/
• Yahoo Video http://video.yahoo.com/
• Youtube http://www.youtube.com/
• VideoSift http://videosift.com/
• Vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/
• Grouper http://www.grouper.com/
• iFilm http://www.ifilm.com/

Each service was tested against the following criteria:

Usability:

• Ease of setup (registration, etc.)
• Ease of use (upload, view, etc.)

Functionality

• Other noteworthy features or lack thereof

Key considerations were:

• What video formats are supported?
• What browser compatibility issues exist?
• What video file size limits exist?
• Can videos be downloaded and viewed offline?
• Can videos be embedded on your webpage?

The basis for this criteria reflect the basic needs of the diverse user group with:

• Multiple platforms (Windows, Linus, Mac, etc.)
• Multiple browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
• Multiple viewing habits (e.g. preference to download and view offline)

In general, all services required creating an account; and most did NOT make it easy for users to “get started”. Exceptions to these are noted below together with the rest of the results from the analysis:

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Google Video http://video.google.ca/

Summary: Google Video was the fastest of the video-sharing services reviewed; it offers the most functionality with the ability to bookmark inside videos (to a specific time frame); offers space for videos over 100mb; and is the only one that offers a category for “Children”

• Setup requires creating an account but many people have gmail.com accounts already so many users can frequently obviate this step
• Accepts these formats: AVI, MPEG, Quicktime, Real, and Windows Media
• Accepts files sizes over 100mb but to upload them user must download “Desktop Google Video Uploader”
• Cannot tag videos but can categorize it for “Children & Family”
• Allows user to embed video on local website
• Lets you bookmark inside video to a specific time
• Lets you easily manage videos in one list
• Sends confirmation email once video is uploaded
• Allows downloading in some instances (depends whether it is public or private); however, videos can only be viewed with Google Video player (cross platform Online Flash FLV player).
• Does not indicate clearly its stance on copyright and/or intellectual ownership of videos

—

Yahoo http://video.yahoo.com/

Summary: Yahoo allows you to get started quickly because it has a “submit your video” here button; poor user confirmation that upload was successful; poor file size and format documentation; reserves the right to modify content; also has very limited category list.

• No “get started here” page but clearly identified where the user must go to “share your videos with the world”
• Setup requires creating an account but many people have yahoo.com accounts already so many users can frequently obviate this step
• Allows you to define how you wish your user identity to be described (this gives option to promote one’s self and mission)
• Lets you tag files but has very limited category list (closest is likely “movies” which storytelling videos obviously are not)
• Does not indicate clearly what formats are supported
• Does not indicate clearly what file size limits are enforced
• After uploading, no clear confirmation page; user does not know whether upload was successful
• Yahoo reserves the right to “modify content”
• Cannot download videos (other than by using third-party website to find real URL)

—

Youtube http://www.youtube.com/

Summary: Youtube allows you to upload up to 100mb for free; one can upload more with a “director’s account” (free); it also shows other videos with similar tags in the margin thereby making it easy to find similar content.

• Youtube estimates it will take 1-5 minutes upload time for every 1MB with a high-speed Internet connection
• File size is limited to 100mb and 10 min. length unless you are approved for “director’s account” (free)—intended to prevent copyright infringement by limiting to under 10 min.
• Does not indicate clearly what formats are supported
• Lets you tag videos and choose from limited categories (closest was “Entertainment” or “Arts”)
• Allows you to embed video on your own page
• Shows you other videos with similar tags in page margin
• Cannot download videos (other than by using third-party website to find real URL)

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VideoSift http://videosift.com/

Summary: Converts files to Flash Video (or allows you to embed videos from other services): this makes it ideal for cross-browsing purposes since it maximizes viewer accessibility.

• Converts all files to Flash Video to maximize accessibility (since nearly all computers can view these)
• Allows you to embed video files from other video-sharing services; and since it converts these to flash it is useful for cross-browser purposes by maximizing viewer accessibility
• If you always embed videos there is theoretically no size limit to this site
• Nice clean look to account page—not cluttered with videos or too many buttons
• Does not reserve any right on file except to host it

—

Vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/

Summary: Has a very limited storage capacity; but was the only video-sharing service that showed a progress bar to indicate where one was in the upload process; converts all files to Flash Video; only video-sharing service that lets you simplify URLs to videos to make them easy to remember.

• After signing up it clearly shows you where to go to upload videos
• Supports tagging
• Has weekly upload limit of 30mb
• Has progress bar so user knows how long upload will be
• Clearly shows you how to watch video when done uploading
• Converts all files to Flash Video
• Allows you to download videos but since they are in Flash format users need to download a standalone Flash player such as FLV Player
• Allows you to simplify the URL name of the file to make them easy to remember

—

Grouper http://www.grouper.com/

Summary: Since it only supports Windows XP it is not suitable for a diverse audience.

• All videos available for download
• All videos only available for 3 min. viewing online; after that, user must download Grouper application to view entirety
• Grouper application only works on Windows XP (not Windows 98, ME, Linux or Mac)
• “About” button is link to Wikipedia entry

—

Ifilm http://www.ifilm.com/

Summary: Since it allows adult content to be displayed it is not suitable for a diverse audience.

• Allows users to share “adult content”
• After creating account it shows you clearly how to upload
• File size can be no more than 100mb
• Supported these formats: 3GP, ASF, AVI, DV, GVI, FLV, MOV, MP4, MPEG, MPG, QT, WMV (but not RAM, RM, or SWF)
• Supports tagging and categories (closest is likely “Education” or “Family”)
• Sends email confirmation when upload is complete

If the videos are hosted on an online service, how can you accurately measure usage statistics? One solution consists in using the embed feature of services such as Google Video. By hosting the videos on Google Video, you can embed them on your web page. If you provide an image link to the video (rather than the live embedded video), you can measure which images, i.e. links, were frequented most. Therefore you can measure hits and rank usage statistics for this service.

In order to maximize user accessibility, it is preferable to use a video-sharing service that uses Flash video since almost all computers can view it. Hosting with Google Videos (which allows files over 100mb) maximizes the access of users. Alternatively, one can host the videos on Google Video and embed them in one of the pure Flash video-sharing services such as VideoSift or Vimeo. This is a two-step process, however, and may increase the number of broken links. Nevertheless, it is a solution that maximizes file size with format.

I am taking an interest in spam. Here is an example of good spam I just got. It is not clever enough to get past my spam filter, but was clever enough to catch my interest to read it on the off-chance it was from someone I knew. If I ever get a job as a spam writer (lmao), this is what I would aspire to…

“Hi!

Last time we talked about the difference between Canadian and US medications. You told me that US meds are much better than other. I’ve decided to try out Canadian pharmacy. You know that i have some problems with anxiety so i used Valium and Xanax that I’ve bought at MyCanadianPharmacy drug store:use this link.
They have lower prices but their medications have such quality as US meds do. They also provide secure purchase. I’m completely satisfied and i think you’ll be satisfied, too.

John.”

and now here are some examples of bad spam. rather than bore you to tears, I have taken the first sentence of many spam and woven them together into a story. I haven’t googled this but, dear reader, you may be witness to the birth of new literary artform: spam fiction. courtesy of the original “spam filter”, my brain.

“Hi Viagra,

welcome to the best pharmacy. many who fell ill are adults: no matter how it is sliced, sensational revolution in medicine. enlarge your penis!

Future witch doctory, your credit doesn’t matter to us! If you OWN real estate and want IMMEDIATE cash to melt away pounds with Hoodia, the newest and most exciting fat loss product available. Be leaner and slimmer by next week. Losing weight has never been so easy! We last promised this stock last week. Oh dear Jesus the doctor is in! Once Paul felt the troopers dead fingers slip, tickling down he cringed away from her. Annie was right; the story was turning out to be a good deal more. Even if you don’t get lung cancer from just one, I’m still not happy about it.

Why seek? Choose any love pie you want. A cookbook? Watch this stock go crazy. While in surgery, do you prefer complaining to management? This stock is extremely undervalued. We have seen these types before: keep going as long as she wants. Strong enough for a man but made for a woman–and older men as the leader of a Mormon splinter group called your future, pale-refince (even if you have no erection problems).

She was as solid as he had always feared. Cornucopia airdrop: “I picked him up on my way back.” How would you feel if she made you burn Misery’s return? Boost your manhood to astonishing levels–everything a real man would ever need! (Good day.) Impress your girl with prolonged hardness, plentiful explosions and increased duration. (Hello Masculin!)

He told him about the catastrophe. And about the shocking fact that when he came home, hungry–good effects of Ephedra on your body–he could hardly believe it. The photo was of a younger, startingly pretty mother of all diet programs. I won’t even get out of bed. Your spouse will love this gift! We have already seen a 49% gain in the last 2 days! Grab or bite away the indifferent chaos that surrounds him.

You’re cureall snapshot figure emerged: aftraid of the next trade day that lies ahead? welcome to the best pharmacy! For heart health, liquor is quicker! And then she began killing the health along with the damaged.

Tell your boss that you quit! Now just fill out simple web forms. She turned and looked at him. When he let the coverlet fall into a smoking heap of computer hobbyists, your credit doesn’t matter to us! Magical thinkers to perform more marriages involving underage girls in his church’s community. Someone to do! Annie admitted balsam; so far, she hadn’t noticed them. Resounding gunnysack!

Best,

John”