There has to be at least one person out there who hasn't heard of or looked at or doesn't know what YouTube is, so for that individual, here is what the company says about itself:
Founded in February 2005, YouTube is the leader in online video, and the premier destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web experience. YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, mobile devices, blogs, and email.
Everyone can watch videos on YouTube. People can see first-hand accounts of current events, find videos about their hobbies and interests, and discover the quirky and unusual. As more people capture special moments on video, YouTube is empowering them to become the broadcasters of tomorrow.
YouTube received funding from Sequoia Capital in November 2005 and was officially launched one month later in December. Chad Hurley and Steve Chen proceeded to become the first members of the YouTube management team and currently serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer respectively.
In November 2006, within a year of its launch, YouTube was purchased by Google Inc. in one of the most talked-about acquisitions to date. YouTube has struck numerous partnership deals with content providers such as CBS, BBC, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, NBA, The Sundance Channel and many more.
I've looked at a lot of YouTube videos about all kinds of things including news, entertainment, comedy and just plain crazy stuff. I've thought about doing something on it, but I'm still in the dark ages when it comes to video other than the little bits that my digital camera does. My old Sony uses a cartridge and besides, its battery is long-gone. I thought I might do better with my webcam, but that would take a gigantic-long cable so I crossed that off my list. Some of the fairly inexpensive camcorders don't take very good pictures so I haven't been very tempted by them, so I was pretty impressed with the write-ups and demos for Pure Technologies Flip Video Ultra Series which they introduced in early September.
The focus of the cameras is on sharing, to which end they have on-board software for uploading to YouTube, AOL, and other video websites. Users can also perform simple editing and cataloguing of clips, as well as one-click e-mail transfers to friends and family. Remaining features are mainly cosmetic, namely a compact size, and five different colors: black, white, purple, orange and green. (You'll see the different colors as you read along.) Zoom is limited to 2x digital. The cameras are both Mac and PC compatible, and are shipping in 1GB (30min.) and 2GB (60min.) formats for $149 and $179.
Following is an excerpt from the company's press release which covers some of the many features these little fellows have on-board:
The Flip Video Ultra Series is the newest member in Pure Digital's popular Flip Video family of digital camcorders, the world's first camcorders with on-board software to enable editing, organizing, and seamless video uploading to AOL, YouTube and other video sharing sites. Flip Video Ultra showcases Pure Digital's next-generation video processing technology, which delivers stunning video and sound quality, even when played on large-screen TVs. The Ultra Series continues Pure Digital's pioneering of a new category of camcorder that puts the power to instantly capture, edit and share video in the pocket of everyday consumers.
"Flip Video Ultra's sleek new design will make it the camcorder of choice for people who want to capture and share life's spontaneous moments, no matter where or when they happen," said Jonathan Kaplan, Chairperson and CEO of Pure Digital Technologies. "It's the perfect solution for anyone who wants a stylish, high quality, take-anywhere camcorder."
Flip Video Ultra's built-in software greatly expands the range of possibilities for users to enjoy and share their video. New features make it simple to edit clips, create custom movies, and even capture still photos from video. For the first time, the software simplifies video sharing by directly integrating with popular sharing sites like AOL and YouTube to provide a seamless experience for both private and public video sharing. This allows consumers to share their videos as easily as they would digital photos -- a trend pioneered by Pure Digital.
Pure Digital is also launching a line of Flip Video accessories -- including a pouch, tripod, action mount, and USB extension cables.
Flip Video Ultra Features
The Flip Video Ultra Series incorporates a wide range of advanced new features, including a 1.5 inch transflective, no-glare display screen for clear viewing in even the brightest sunlight, next-generation video processing, and increased on-board memory (2 GB of for the 60-minute model and 1 GB for the 30-minute model). Features include:
* One-touch recording with 2x digital zoom
* Instant on-camera playback and delete
* High-speed video sharing from any PC or Mac
* One-click emailing of videos and video greeting cards
* Custom editing of movie mixes, with the option to set them to your own music
* Capture of still photos from video
* Built-in tripod mount
* Convenient DVD processing option at over 9,400 one hour labs nationwide
I checked the web and easily found these newest models ready to ship. The Amazon.com site was offering the white model in both versions for the MSRP of $179 and $149 and indicating the other colors would be in-stock soon. BestBuy also listed the $179 white and black models, but on back order...both sites offer FREE shipping...a definite plus for those of us in Hawaii. I couldn't find them on CompUSA, Circuit City, or WalMart, but I wrote this the middle of September so by the time you read it, they may be available on other sites as well as in the stores, here.
I know there are some budding Hollywood filmmakers out there, so I am pleased to tell you there is a program that will come close to anything I've seen before in producing fantastic videos. The good news is it won't cost you a fortune as some of the products I've looked at do. This one is Pinnacle Studio Ultimate11 and the best price I found is $79.99 at Amazon (free shipping included) which believe me is a bargain. Following is a brief overview.
Create professional-caliber movies
Pinnacle Studio Ultimate helps you harness the power of the latest in technology - HD, Windows Vista, Web Publishing and more. Additional fully-integrated pro audio and video tools give you complete control over the quality and style of your video for superior results.
Your Life in Your Control
Import your videos from most video devices including DV, HDV and AVCHD camcorders, as well as digital still cameras. Pinnacle Studio Ultimate automatically detects scenes and creates clips. Choose from a wide range of keyframe-able effects and transitions, titles and more - all with real-time full-screen previews.
Your Life with Style
Show your personal flair with advanced effects such as Picture-in-Picture, Surround Sound editing and Chroma Key with the included green screen. Automatically generate a soundtrack or import your favorite music. proDAD VitaScene and StageTools MovingPicture give you precision tools to add professional-level video enhancements, while BIAS SoundSoap audio cleaning ensures your movies sound as good as they look.
Experience Your Life Like Never Before
Create professional quality DVDs or HD DVD format discs with multiple menus and animated backgrounds on standard DVD media. Enjoy your movies on your Sony PSP, Apple iPod, DivX certified players, and more. Use the Web upload feature to automatically share your creations publicly or privately with family and friends.
For anyone interested in this software, I highly recommend you go to http://tinyurl.com/322wfc for a look at the key features and tech data. I watched a demo of this one in July and was really impressed.
That's it for now, be sure and send me a link to your YouTube videos so I can see them before they play on the big screen {:-)
Until next time, please be careful out there while you are having fun with all the consumer electronic goodies.
Aloha, Lou
