About.com Desktop Video

On a Video Shopping Spree

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:18:52 +0000

I've been working on a dream job setting up a new client with the equipment they'll need to set up an in-house video department. To say there's no budget is to exaggerate, but this is one of those large companies that has no problem seeing a lot of zeroes.

So I've been set loose to find a camcorder, microphones, editing software and accessories for $10,000. And it's not even like we're talking about super-professional equipment; they're looking for quality stuff that staff can use without a lot of training.

It's nice to take price out of the equation - especially since I'm so keenly aware of it when shopping for my own video equipment. I've spent all morning on the B&H website looking at cameras, tripods, mics, teleprompters, backdrops and lights, with my focus entirely on quality and function, not cost. I wish shopping were always like this!

On a Video Shopping Spree originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 14:18:52.

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Create Commercials and Win

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:48 +0000

There are two new commercial contests for you to enter; you can win up to $7,500 as well as some other cool prizes. Good luck.

2009 AKC/Eukanuba Commercial Contest. Contest ends: November 30, 2009
Best Idea on Two Feet Contest. Contest ends December 4, 2009 (The Z-CoiL "Best Idea on Two Feet" Commercial Challenge ("Contest") is open only to individuals who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older.)

Go to Online Video Contests to view all of the contests featured on our site.

Create Commercials and Win originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 09:00:48.

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CDNs v. YouTube: Let the Streaming Begin

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:38:22 +0000

Should you host your videos on YouTube, or pay the fee to sign up for a dedicated content delivery network? Let's break down the pros and cons.

Cost: YouTube is free; CDNs charge a monthly fee. YouTube wins.

Services: YouTube offers only streaming video; CDNs offer streaming video, live video casting, video conferencing, pay-per-view video downloads and more. CDNs win.

Customization: YouTube videos are limited in length and play in Flash in a standard, branded player; CDNs allow you stream any length video in customized video players in various formats. CDNs win.

Video Quality: YouTube is getting better about converting video, but the quality can still be sketchy; online conversion quality varies between CDNs, but you can always use your own video conversion software before uploading. CDNs win.

Popularity: When your video is on YouTube it's instantly in front of millions of eyeballs, and indexed in Google; some CDNs offer video syndication, but mostly you'll be self promoting your videos. YouTube wins.

In the end it comes down to your purpose for uploading videos in the first place. If you're trying to make viral videos that will appeal to all audiences, go the YouTube route. If you're trying to communicate a professional message to a specific audience, using a CDN to stream the videos through your website is probably best.

Top Content Delivery Networks for Streaming Video

CDNs v. YouTube: Let the Streaming Begin originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 14:38:22.

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Video Gifts for the Holidays

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:30:15 +0000

Halloween's over and, like a lot of people, I'm looking forward to the holidays. Who knows, I may even buy myself an early present on Black Friday if there are any great video deals.

If you're looking for video gifts, I've got so many creative ideas for you. For the video maker in your life, you can choose a camcorder or buy video editing software. For something a little different (and a little less expensive), like headphones or a magazine subscription, check out these video gift ideas for inspiration.

And if you are the video maker in in the family, why not transfer home movies to DVD or produce a family memoir movie? If you're richer in time than money, these family films can be a valuable gift to all your relatives.

Video Gifts for the Holidays originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 13:30:15.

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Scary Movie Effects

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:28:32 +0000

I do not like scary movies, so I appreciate cheesy effects that remind me that it is, in fact, just a movie. If you want to make a spooky-cheesy Halloween movie, try using these Halloween video effects. Storms, earthquakes, and ghosts are all at your editing fingertips!

Scary Movie Effects originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 11:28:32.

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Online Video Editing, Family-Style

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:06:59 +0000

My grandmother recently died and left behind a cupboard full of VHS home movies from the 80s. Turning them into DVDs has become my responsibility. There's too much unwanted footage to transfer the tapes directly to disk; they'll need to be edited first.

Editing your family's memories is a daunting task, and in this case I'm dealing with a lot of aunts, uncles and cousins. I don't want to take responsibility for cutting someone out and leaving someone else in, so I'm going to let my family members do the editing themselves.

And no, I'm not going to invite them all into the studio to offer their input. Thanks to online video editing services like Motionbox and Pixorial, collaborative video editing can happen from any computer connected to the internet.

And I don't even have to digitize and upload the tapes - if I mail them in the companies will do it for me. I'll share the account information with my relatives and they can each go on and edit an individual version of the video. This can be shared online, or ordered on DVD.

Very cool, and very easy (for me especially)!

Online Video Editing, Family-Style originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 16:06:59.

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Roundup October ---- Kick-start November

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:18 +0000

This is your weekly reminder of upcoming contest deadlines. And since it's the end of the month there are quite a few video contests that will be ending this week, so make sure you've submitted all of the necessary information along with your videos in order to win.

Interactive Male's Big Gay Kiss Contest. Contest ends: October 30, 2009
Wirefly's Video Challenge. Contest ends: October 30, 2009
International Student Travel Video Contest 2009. Contest ends: October 30, 2009
Newegg Eggstreme Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
TCU Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
SKITBITS.COM Create Your Own Commercial Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
San Juan Islands Vacation Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
"Warman Fuzzy" Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
Do You Know Who I Am? Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
Kars4Kids Jingle Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
DBSA 2009 "Facing Us" Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
Money Can't Buy (Blank) Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
Gold Star Chili Flavor Fanatics Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
Making Sense of Diabetes Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
True Value DIY Drama Contest. Contest ends: November 2, 2009
I Am What I Learn Video Contest. Contest ends: November 2, 2009
Go to Online Video Contests to view all of the contests featured on our site.

Roundup October ---- Kick-start November originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 14:00:18.
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Free Hulu Now. Pay for it Later.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:44:29 +0000

I recently moved to a new town, which meant getting set up with a new cable service. I still haven't managed to figure out how to use my new DVR service, so I end up missing a lot of the programs that I like to watch. That's ok, though, because I've been able to find them free online, mostly through Hulu.

But it looks like the days of free TV and movies on Hulu are coming to an end. According to industry reports, the streaming video site is planning to move from an ad-based revenue model to subscription-based. There are no hard details, but the switch will likely happen sometime in 2010. That should give me plenty of time to figure out how to use my DVR!

Free Hulu Now. Pay for it Later. originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 11:44:29.

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U2 on YouTube

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:12:41 +0000

OK, so I know what I'm doing on Sunday. I'll be at a U2 concert. Yeah, right. I wish.

But YouTube is offering me the next best thing - a live broadcast of a U2 concert. The band is giving YouTube viewers inside access to their live show at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Cool!

U2 on YouTube originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 11:12:41.

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Free Web Videos

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:01:30 +0000

If you read this site often, you know that there are lots of great reasons to use video to promote your business online. TurnHere, a national video company based in San Francisco, has added another one: it's free! You can actually get a professionally produced video for your business - which can be embedded on your web page, Facebook, Google Local and other sites - for free. Then, after six months of using the video you get the option of paying a low monthly fee to keep it up, or having it removed from the web.

The films are all produced by a professional filmmaker in TurnHere's national network, so you usually get someone who's pretty local to your business. The filmmakers are all getting paid their regular TurnHere rate, so it's not a low-quality "free" job for them.

I encourage any business that wants to dip its toe into online video to sign up for their free video from TurnHere. And filmmakers who want to get involved in the action should consider signing up as contractors with TurnHere. It's a great way to fill in between other jobs and work with local businesses.

Free Web Videos originally appeared on About.com Desktop Video on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 12:01:30.

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