Chris Pirillo » Media

How to Broadcast a Wireless Audio / Video Signal from PC to TV

Chris — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:42:31 +0000

How to Broadcast a Wireless Audio / Video Signal from PC to TV is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Let’s say you have an HDTV, a computer and Internet access. Why not put all of those things together by experiencing computer content on your computer? How would you get content from the computer to the television? You know you don’t want to run a cable from one to the other, right? So what else can you do? Lucky for you, the latest product from IOGear is here to save the day!

The Wireless USB Audio and Video Kit allows you to connect your computer to your TV wirelessly without the long and unattractive cable run. The system has strong, reliable signals – ideal for streaming media content across a room… even up to 30 feet away. There’s not even any complicated setup process.

The kit consists of three adapters: audio for speaker connectivity, VGA for the TV and Wireless USB for the hosting PC. Once you’re hooked up, you can do everything from watch your favorite YouTube videos to editing a spreadsheet for work – right on your flat-screen TV!

Broadcast whatever is on your computer onto your television. Make your family happy. Instead of gathering around your monitor, you can relax in front of the TV.

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How to Share Music and be Your own DJ

Chris — Tue, 05 May 2009 07:20:34 +0000

How to Share Music and be Your own DJ is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I am quite literally all over the musical map. I’ll listen to any kind of music. Inevitably, I’ll be playing a song and someone has to ask who sings it. Then, of course, they want to know how to download the song. There’s a different service now that you can use to share your music with others! Check out Blip.fm!

Blip lets you basically create your own music station! Enter your DJ name, and your email address – and go! I’ve known about this service for awhile now. I never bothered to feature it, because I hadn’t signed up for an account. I thought it was about time to sign up for an account, so that I can help people figure out what songs I’m listening to.

Now you can easily follow along and listen to the music with me. You’ll know who the artist is, what the title is, and find a way to get the music yourself! I warn you, though – I’m very eclectic with my music tastes. I meant it when I said I listen to a little bit of everything.

When you sign up for the site, they’ll ask you what song you want to Blip. Be sure you preview your selection to make sure that you have the right one. Click the “Blip” button to the left of the song, and add a personal message if you choose. It’s then added to my Blip list for all of you to enjoy! If you like the song, you can favorite it or play it over and over.

If you’ve always wanted to share your music with others, and let them know what you’re listening to… be sure to check out Blip!

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Where to Find MP3s of New Music Releases

Chris — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:36:10 +0000

Where to Find MP3s of New Music Releases is a post from Chris Pirillo

Amazon MP3 has a wide selection of popular new MP3 albums for music fans of any genre from rock to hip hop, country, jazz, and beyond. This month, they’re celebrating indie rock with a well-crafted list of the 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of All Time and over 100 free songs from 12 Indie Label Samplers that are available only at Amazon MP3.

With the Grammy Awards(R) behind us and spring in the air, the big new releases of 2009 are getting bigger every week. You can find new releases anytime at Amazon MP3. Featured Artists with New Releases?

Along with Amazon MP3’s carefully selected list of the 100 Greatest Indie Rock albums of all time, whet your audience’s appetite for indie rock further, with free label samplers and discounted MP3 albums from top-tier indie labels like Sub Pop, ANTI, Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, and more. These selections are available only through April 30, 2009, and only at Amazon MP3. Take advantage of this promotion ASAP!

Here is more about just one of the Indie Free Album Samplers this Month: Sub Pop’s Free Label Samplerfeatures 11 songs from artists like Flight of the Conchords, Fleet Foxes, Handsome Furs, Vetiver, Iron & Wine, the Vaselines, and many more. You’ll also find a selection of related Sub Pop albums under $10.

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To link directly to the promotions mentioned above and earn referral fees on subsequent qualifying purchases, follow the link format replacing “lockergnome-20″ with your Associates ID:

Indie Rock

New Releases

Amazon MP3 homepage

Where to Fall in Love with Valentine’s Day Romance Music

Chris — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:53:36 +0000

Where to Fall in Love with Valentine’s Day Romance Music is a post from Chris Pirillo

Broken Heart Radio – Broken Heart Radio on Slacker is a melancholy mix of lost love and yearning with a touch of soulful redemption. These songs of heartbreak and hope will show you that sadness can be beautiful and love is fleeting but always on the horizon.

Slow Jamz – Slow Jamz on Slacker Radio features the greatest classic and current R&B love songs to put you in the mood for whatever your Valentines Day has in store Featuring the seductive sounds of artists like Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Keith Sweat, and Boyz II Men. Recommended for Valentines Day if you already enjoy Soul Jams on Slacker Radio.

Rock Ballads Radio – Big Rock Ballads on Slacker Radio will take you back to the days of big hair and big love ballads. Raise your lighters in the air, grab the one you love, and find your own “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”. Big Rock Ballads on Slacker Radio features all the best balladeers from the 70’s and 80’s like Journey, Foreigner, and Aerosmith.

Country Love [NOT Courtney Love] – Country music is the music of our lives; the good, the bad, love, and loss. Country Love on Slacker Radio takes the best of Country and focuses only on the love songs: old fashion All-American love stories. Country Love on Slacker Radio plays everything from today’s superstars to yesterday’s timeless country. Fall in love with the boy or girl next door all over again. If you already enjoy Country on Slacker Radio, this is your Valentines Day soundtrack

Metropolitan Mood – Metropolitan Mood music on Slacker Radio is the provocative soundtrack to seduction and love. It’s not so much about the lyrics, as it is the sound and tempo of this mood music. It’s the sound of a big-city love affair. Featuring exotic electronica, downtempo beats and retro-futuristic sounds from the likes of Morcheeba, Portishead, and Massive Attack. Let Metropolitan Mood Music on Slacker Radio provide the uninterrupted soundtrack to a night of uninterrupted passion. Recommended for lovers of Chill and Alt-Chill on Slacker Radio.

Apple TV vs Every Other DVR

Chris — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:20:54 +0000

Apple TV vs Every Other DVR is a post from Chris Pirillo

When Apple first announced their Apple TV product, I was interested but not excited. Years later, that interest has completely warn off – largely because of the lack of updates and killer features. Admittedly, I do already have a TiVo (and a few Comcast DVRs to boot).

Still, why has Apple seemingly abandoned the Apple TV? There’s a new report suggesting that Apple is working on a connected television. I’m not so sure that’s even interesting to me. Who knows? Maybe they’ll knock that one out of the park.

Do you have an Apple TV, or do you feel like you’re missing out because you don’t have one? I asked my Twitter followers, and some of them responded:

Vividlydrawn: what's an AppleTV?

about 47 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:37:58 +0000 2009

jmccullough108: I agree. I am perfectly fine without one.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:19 +0000 2009

Condawg: I feel the same way. Hooking up my iMac to my TV gives me basically the same thing… It just seems worthless, IMO.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:39 +0000 2009

Schlomo: AppleTV is not nearly as interesting as my xbox!

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:40 +0000 2009

robertrosenfeld: I agree. I like Apple, but I don't need them handing my entire media experience.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:41 +0000 2009

ericpratum: Agreed. Honestly, I don't sit in front of the TV enough to make it worth it. If I did, I don't know that I'd choose AppleTV

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:51 +0000 2009

MikeMathia: I don't own one, and I don't wish that I had one. It's a good idea, just not for me.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:05 +0000 2009

dVoka: AppleTV rocks! You can connect a Terrabyte drive to it where your backed up DVDs reside, run Boxee (hulu), and much more.

about 45 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:23 +0000 2009

unclespeedo: i don't believe you're in the target audience for apple tv….. you shouldn't feel like you're missing anything, you're not

about 45 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:40 +0000 2009

gregskidmore: Yes I do too. I keep wanting to get an AppleTV. I don't know why I haven't bought one yet. Maybe it's lacking something?

about 45 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:45 +0000 2009

roehmholdt: iTMS + 30in Cinema Display > AppleTV… now to go get that Cinema display…

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:12 +0000 2009

Outsanity: It's just more Apple crap that's more likely not worth the money unless you're that into Apple swag

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:19 +0000 2009

xKevinx: I'm with you on that

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:34 +0000 2009

maddogdom: you said that about the iPhone and you loved that!

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:36 +0000 2009

andrewmundy: you're totally not the only one. I promise

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:37 +0000 2009

AppleNerd: I don't see anything in the AppleTV. Seems boring…

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:41 +0000 2009

JessePB: Considering you can accomplish the same thing by buying directly in iTunes and streaming with any number of other devices, no.

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:47 +0000 2009

yenra: AppleTV is excellent at displaying photos on a big HDTV – smooth & great quality; also Flickr, Podcasts, YouTube.

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:56 +0000 2009

shedtroll: I don't feel I'm missing out. Boxee is a better alternative.

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:07 +0000 2009

cpedraza: I'm an Apple fan but in the world of DVRs AppleTV doesn't make sense for me.

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:22 +0000 2009

findingnewo: Yeah, I don't get the appeal. I think WinMCE extenders are much more worth it.

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:22 +0000 2009

jbone66: My ATV was humdrum until XBMC/Boxee was available for it. It's our main method to accessing video content now…

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:43 +0000 2009

VxJasonxV: It's very interesting. It's just that the most of us have computers to do everything the AppleTV does, and more.

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:07 +0000 2009

biss13: if you don't own an AppleTV how do you know what is it you are missing? ;)

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:10 +0000 2009

robpickering: And that statement shows everyone you don't have one. Hulu on my TV – 'nuff said

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:15 +0000 2009

EricCAnderson: Agree: it's basically just another iPod for your TV (even with boxiee on it)…

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:20 +0000 2009

Knunez: yeah I dont need one.. no point in having one anyways

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:45 +0000 2009

wolrah: i agree they're not that interesting out of the box, but patchstick them and they're great. XBMC and Boxee ftw

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:52 +0000 2009

Christyxcore: i agree. I thought it was cool when I saw it at my friends house but now that I think about it, it's also overpriced 4 watitis

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:51 +0000 2009

tjohansen: AppleTV alone isn't great, but AppleTV + @boxee is great!

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:59 +0000 2009

johnbarta: just buy it chris! Even if you dont use it it could be a fancy drink holder

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:58 +0000 2009

iGeekW: AppleTV is not worth the money :P

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:05 +0000 2009

jefflundberg: A DELL Studio PC w/ Blu-ray and Windows Media Center Edition is much more interesting.

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:22 +0000 2009

benhigham: I guess that depends on your current setup. I think it appeals to a different audience.

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:28 +0000 2009

easy_way: there a waste of money i got one and its kinda useless

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:55 +0000 2009

LisaBarger: Yes, Chris. Yes you are.

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:57 +0000 2009

yesitsmedoug: I once walked into Apple and asked them Why I would want one. They didn't sell me on the idea so I also don't have or want one

about 40 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:44:14 +0000 2009

chrisutley: #AppleTV with @boxee is great. I rent a lot of movies from #Apple, and watch TV shows over Hulu.

about 40 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:44:16 +0000 2009

themacinjosh: no you're not, I don't feel like I'm missing much. All of the media is available whether you own an apple tv or not.

about 40 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:45:04 +0000 2009

TarasI: I don't think so. One of my friends has one and it's really not that useful, especially if you have Media Center Extensions.

about 39 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:45:34 +0000 2009

idarknight: you might be – between the hacks and the core functions, it is a device whose tipping point may have come

about 37 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:47:33 +0000 2009

anansie: Its cheaper than a mac mini and has boxee going for it , Also it's the only game in town for renting movies in hd on iTunes

about 35 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:49:23 +0000 2009

amarvin: i didn't feel that i was missing out on Apple TV until Boxee popped up. now i want to roll my own Atom-based version w/ boxee.

about 35 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:49:36 +0000 2009

kevinbriody: I bought an early model AppleTV. I'd call it “neat” but definitely not compelling. Cool to show family vids, some DL'd TV.

about 35 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:49:58 +0000 2009

jay1one: we might be the only two, but you are definitely not the only one.

about 34 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:50:18 +0000 2009

ahaslach: Functionality of AppleTV can be replicated/exceeded w/ a laptop and video cable. Not a compelling product.

about 34 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:50:20 +0000 2009

j_holtslander: Nope.

about 34 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:50:23 +0000 2009

ipodtouch15: I agree!:)

about 33 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:51:17 +0000 2009

wmchamberlain: Why would I buy a AppleTV when I can do more with a mac mini? Even the Cult of Mac would have a hard time explaining.

about 32 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:52:16 +0000 2009

calebh: nope I feel the same way

about 32 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:52:24 +0000 2009

schmenzer: Chris, I was a lot more interested before I started using Boxee.

about 31 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:53:22 +0000 2009

seanwolter: The true media hoarder has a mac mini and a drobo hooked up to his big screen

about 30 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:55:08 +0000 2009

mikekochansky: I agree. As much as I love Apple, I have little to no desire/need for AppleTV

about 29 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:55:28 +0000 2009

ricorick: Boxee has made mine more interesting and better.

about 28 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:56:52 +0000 2009

Zanoryt: Running Boxee on Apple TV is a compelling replacement for a cable connection. It's not 100% ideal, but Boxee is really awesome

about 27 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:57:40 +0000 2009

adamkmiec: I love mine – it's a fixture of our house

about 25 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:59:23 +0000 2009

MicrosoftWin7: RT: ByronSmartMicrosoftWin7 Yeah my hacked Xbox1 W Media Center(720p) is far more intresting then Apple TV, + the 360

about 24 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:00:18 +0000 2009

blogbloke: I'm with you Chris

about 24 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:00:57 +0000 2009

JessLoebig: Well maybe it is because you have a TiVo ;)

about 23 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:01:26 +0000 2009

cogwisewill: Well, if you get the atv flash and are able to put hulu on the appletv along with a other things… http://bit.ly/LDL8

about 23 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:02:05 +0000 2009

RobinBoyWonders: I like it a lot

about 22 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:02:25 +0000 2009

color_me_pink: You're not the only one. Until there is DVRcapability, I won't even consider it.

about 21 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:03:35 +0000 2009

gurubrandon: Yes.. but Boxee makes that genre of devices very interesting. ( http://boxee.tv )

about 21 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:03:41 +0000 2009

PassTheBoll: seeing as you can accomplish the same thing using less money, I won't get one. Just take a computer and connect it to the tv.

about 21 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:03:57 +0000 2009

webdrifter: This frugal tech guy is all ATO man! No AppleTV, no DirecTV and no cable TV. Just a cheap Techno who has seen and likes HULU

about 20 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:04:42 +0000 2009

gailelaine: I don't own an Apple TV because I just don't see the need. I own a Mac and I've looked at the Apple TV.

about 19 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:05:11 +0000 2009

LoganPayne: I don't feel that like I'm missing out. But I do want one….to stop buying DVDs and discs…

about 16 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:09:06 +0000 2009

Sebbbb: how isn't it intresting? it comes in a shiny apple box :P

about 15 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:09:18 +0000 2009

sideswipe70: I feel the same way. It just seems like a glorified media server.

about 9 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:15:37 +0000 2009

swichi293: I own everything apple, but I refuse to own the apple tv. It really is quite pointless

about 8 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:16:29 +0000 2009

aaron_bennett: It's just not exciting enough for the price OR the inevitable inoperability with my other devices.. You are not alone.

about 7 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:17:40 +0000 2009

What are your thoughts on Apple TV and the general state of DVRs?

DTV Transition Postponed Again!

Chris — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:52:36 +0000

DTV Transition Postponed Again! is a post from Chris Pirillo

As I mentioned on Twitter a few hours ago: Congress Changes DTV ‘Hard’ Date to June 12. Is pushing this back AGAIN right or wrong? The transition is seemingly long overdue. Upgrade, people!

I ordered my DTV converter box coupons as soon as I heard the government was handing them out (and yes, I still own a couple of analog sets). How you could miss the announcements for vouchers last year is beyond me – just about every local station had a scrolling ticker WARNING people that they wouldn’t be able to view anything unless they had a converter box come January.

Some of you responded to this question on Twitter:

creamers: agreed

about 4 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:19:22 +0000 2009

katarina1505: From what I’ve read it’s passed through Congress, and Obama is expected to sign it.

about 6 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:17:29 +0000 2009

KKPsi1919: Wrong because people had a year to get ready.

about 16 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:07:49 +0000 2009

marsacademy: I really don’t see the point of the delay. People either get it, or they won’t until the change is made

about 16 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:07:46 +0000 2009

therealdede: I know right? I grew up on bunny ears. Ughhh so annoying

about 17 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:06:29 +0000 2009

therealdede: wrong. Your state has that too niiice

about 45 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:38:39 +0000 2009

CourVO: no matter WHEN they do it….some people won’t be prepared

about 48 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:35:34 +0000 2009

Wallace_Reid: obviously, you don’t live in the sticks.

about 51 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:32:39 +0000 2009

muckdog: The quickest way to get those who haven’t coverted to convert is to pull the plug.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:18:25 +0000 2009

wolrah: agreed. delaying doesn’t help anything, same number of idiots will complain then as now.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:17:58 +0000 2009

thesolutions: it’s true that many need to upgrade but so many haven’t

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:17:58 +0000 2009

PhilMan9045: I agree with you. If they’re not ready than making the switch will tell them they need to upgrade.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:16:04 +0000 2009

powerbook_pete: If people aren’t ready now, they won’t be ready in four months.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:15:43 +0000 2009

dailyclerk: the issue is that not everyone can afford the boxes and there are foreign channels that won’t deliver digital. Oye

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:14:51 +0000 2009

Condawg: Did that pass? I heard that it got rejected.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:30 +0000 2009

Kathy_L: I think this DTV BS is just so people have to start paying for TV. The ones who will lose out are the working poor.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:25 +0000 2009

mattsnod: Please just rip that DTV transition Band-Aid off already, government. That’s why it’s called a deadline.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:20 +0000 2009

lisalee: I’ve long since been digital but, for some folks, upgrading is costly or complicated. Heck, I’m still rocking the VHS!! ;-D

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:06 +0000 2009

GroudyRadio: No matter how long they delay, there will always be people who are not ready. just make the switch already!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:10:55 +0000 2009

Twirrim: instead of a cut off date you’ll get a staggered mess

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:47 +0000 2009

kevin_weiner: It was a stupid move to delay the DTV deadline! They should just give it over with already!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:37 +0000 2009

Twirrim: wrong, implemented in such a way that some stations can / will change early to reduce cost.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:36 +0000 2009

brandon_wirtz: But what if there was an alien invasion and the ladies in the Nursing home couldn’t get the news on their B&W Set?

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:25 +0000 2009

docrock: They have been moving the date for like five plus years… people just need to get with the picture… no pun intended.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:06 +0000 2009

LostInInaka: well we have until 2011 I think in Northern Japan…but its been rolling out from the south since 2008….I think (don’t q …

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:03 +0000 2009

jimlavin: Should have done it two years ago with the networks. But NO! We have to hold everyone’s hand and make sure they get converted.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:01 +0000 2009

jelloboi: Wrong! Folks have had 4 yrs since announced, 2 years since commercials, 1yr since coupons. Lazy folks won’t be ready in 4mos

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:08:32 +0000 2009

tvamy: yes but stations get to make their own call so it will be a huge confusing mess

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:08:17 +0000 2009

jthermane24: wrong the gov’t is just creating more confusion. U or me understand it but what about the Mexican who cant speak english

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:07:59 +0000 2009

KellyShibari: Obama’s thinking about the little people and I don’t mean midgets. Some ppl don’t have $40-wait, there’s a coupon. Never mind.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:07:37 +0000 2009

kriskarkoski: I was hoping the government would have the balls to stick with the date and force people to move. Just delaying the inevitable

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:07:06 +0000 2009

geekgiant: Local station KOMO is petitioning to keep with the original date. I agree. Upgrade people!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:06:59 +0000 2009

gurubrandon: Wooo.. that’s my birthday!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:06:47 +0000 2009

Just tell me that you’ve already secured your converter box (if you still need one)?

What’s New in iLife ‘09 (iPhoto, iMovie, iWeb, GarageBand)?

Chris — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:44:46 +0000

What’s New in iLife ‘09 (iPhoto, iMovie, iWeb, GarageBand)? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

I am taking a look at the new iLife ‘09 for Mac OS X. As of the day I installed this, January 26th, it wasn’t available to the public yet. Due to a misprint in a BestBuy ad, Danny was able to purchase his copy early. Taking a look at it, I’m already liking what I see. The four components of iLife are:

iPhoto – Organize photos two new ways: Faces, based on who’s in your photos, and Places, based on where your photos were taken. Then share on Facebook or Flickr with a click.
iMovie – Make a great movie in the time you have. Choose a dynamic theme to enhance your movie in seconds. Or refine every shot with the Precision Editor.
GarageBand – Learn to play piano and guitar. Learn songs from the artists who made them famous. Rock like a legend with new guitar amps and stompbox effects.
iWeb – Design a website to share your photos, movies, and music just by dragging and dropping. Add new dynamic widgets and publish and share with a click.

Danny says that he’s noticed no speed improvements, but has definitely gotten excellent functionality improvements. He says that it is definitely well worth the amount of money it cost to buy the software.

I’m big into shooting live-to-tape, via Ustream. However, after watching Danny play around in iMovie, I’m willing to give it another try. He loves iPhoto just as much, especially the capability to publish immediately to Facebook or Twitter. iPhoto also lets you organize your photos in ways you may not have even thought of before.

The new version of GarageBand allows you to “take lessons” from beginning to expert level. There are new guitar features, and full-screen capability!! Assign instruments and styles to your guitarist, bassist, drummer, and keyboard player. Shuffle instruments randomly to instantly hear a new sound from your backing band. Create a custom mix using volume sliders or by muting and soloing any instrument.

And then we come to iWeb. iWeb makes it simple to design your own website… a task that is difficult for many people. Start by picking an Apple-designed theme. Each theme comes with coordinated fonts, backgrounds, and colors to give your site a consistent look throughout. Next, choose your template, and customize it using the tools integrated in iWeb.

I’m definitely getting my copy this week and getting it installed… are you?

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What’s In the Macworld 2009 Speaker Bag?

coupons — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:16:29 +0000

What’s In the Macworld 2009 Speaker Bag? is a post from Chris Pirillo

I spoke at Macworld this year. Apparently, they decided to give all the speakers a bag filled with stuff… AMAZING stuff. Whatever I don’t have, I’ll be giving away – so pay close attention. If you’d rather not read, scroll down to watch the “live” unbagging.

Here’s some of what I discovered in my bag:

A Line of Type: 120 Years of Typographic History
Quark Express 8 – 60-day demo (demo? lame.)
Your Brain: The Missing Manual
SHURE SE420 Earphones
Apple iWork ‘08 Training CD
Squeeze 5 for Flash
Lynda.com free access to training library for a YEAR
Equinux Stationery Pack for Leopard Mail
Bento 2
MoneyWorks Gold
MIMOBOT 2.0 Designer USB Flash Drive
Revive Lite home charger for iPod / iPhone
Drive Genius 2
StoryMill Software
$500 Certificate for DriveSaver’s Data Recovery gift certificate
Xstand from Just Mobile
Fluid Mask 3 (for both Windows and OS X)
Griffin AirCurve
Mac Office 2008
Gorillapod DSLR
MoboRip (Device Leash)
Hear by Joesoft (sound tweaking software)
VMWare Fusion
RealVasic 2008
Lojack for Laptops year subscription
ReadIRIS Pro OCR software
Another set of headphones
iPhone 3G hard shell case
iPod Nano Sport Grip
Macworld Extra Large Cooler

Did you go to Macworld 2009? Did we run into each other, or did you meet other interesting people? Do you plan on going to Macworld 2010? Just because Apple won’t be there doesn’t mean they won’t have it! The Mac community is strong, and we will still be supportive next year.

Video Camera Comparison Test: Mino, Zi6, Vado!

Chris — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:21:14 +0000

Video Camera Comparison Test: Mino, Zi6, Vado! is a post from Chris Pirillo

I kept the camera(s) as steady as possible as I panned across the landscape from the vantage point of my bedroom window this evening. Watch the full HD version on YouTube, or scroll down to watch the high-quality embedded version.

Each series of clips were taken back-to-back – the first series, earlier when the sunset was striking the clouds in a dramatic fashion; the second series, when it was a bit more overcast (and there were both pink and blue hues on the horizon).

In each set, the cameras were used in this order: Flip Mino HD, Kodak Zi6, Creative Vado HD. You’ll see annotations lead off each scene (then quickly disappear).

I removed the audio from this video to alleviate volume level discrepancies, as well as to provide further concentration on the video quality at hand. Obviously, viewing in HD is required for fairest judgment.

Processing was NOT done to any of these videos; these recordings were sewn together in a seamless fashion and uploaded to YouTube in their near-original condition.

The Flip Mino HD pretty much washed out the sky’s vibrant colors in the first set, and effectively made a drab mountain view appear even more drab in the second set.
The Kodak Zi6 did a good job with the colors, but couldn’t strike a good balance between the bright sky and the dark landscape in either set.
My verdict still favors the Creative Vado HD – not only with its wide-angle lens capability, but its truer-to-life colors and exposure balance (between dark and light in the same shot).

Best Video Camera: Creative Vado HD vs Flip Mino HD vs Kodak Zi6?

Chris — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:37:37 +0000

Best Video Camera: Creative Vado HD vs Flip Mino HD vs Kodak Zi6? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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First, I got the Kodak Zi6. Then, I got the Flip Mino HD. A few hours ago, I received a recently-ordered Creative Vado HD and decided that instead of doing a full-on review of it, I’d compare it directly against the Mino HD and the Zi6 – in a short video shootout.

Flip Mino HD Likes: small and lightweight; has decent software that runs on both Mac OS X and Windows; decent “foreground subject focused” audio in noisy situations.
Flip Mino HD Dislikes: Touch controls are too sensitive; there’s a plastic protector that flips out along with the USB connector; colors are always washed out; flat video quality; white balance is impossible; tons of noise in low light; my skin tone never looks right indoors; built-in YouTube uploader decreases quality automatically; tiny LCD screen; cheap plastic wrist strap.
Kodak Zi6 Likes: decent saturation; decent audio; great LCD size; uses AA batteries; uses SDHC media; macro switch; great quality when not blurring.
Kodak Zi6 Dislikes: unpredictably blurred recordings in low light; no clear audio when noisy; no Mac software support; can be oversaturated in certain scene; heavy construction.
Creative Vado HD Likes: great balance of color and saturation in the average shot; tends to favor skin tones; wide angle lens; can record two hours; replaceable / rechargeable battery via USB; lightweight; sharp definition.
Creative Vado HD Dislikes: included skin doesn’t accommodate battery replacement / hard reset; audio is treble muted from behind (in narration); skews to light which isn’t always neutral; has a wrist strap slot but doesn’t come with a strap.

The Flip Mino HD is the worst of the bunch to my eyes and ears, and I’m looking to sell it (hardly used) at a good price. The Kodak is completely unusable in artificial light (due to uncontrollable blurring), which rules it out for where I’d need it most. I don’t think Flip is going to fix their problems with a software update, but I’m holding out hope for a Zi6 fix. Kodak has to get its act together – so does Pure Digital.

For my money right now, it’s the Creative Vado HD. The wide angle lens is absolutely essential when you’re trying to get closer to a subject – or if you want more in the scene. That’s all you need to know – and all the reason to go with a Vado HD over the others. Even if you think the Zi6 isn’t bad, the Vado’s wide angle lens trumps it. You have to be much further away from your subject to get the same shot as you can with a Vado (closer, and with MORE in the frame). Keep that in mind the next time you’re in tight quarters, or when you have to take three steps back just to get the shot you wanted.

Plus, the Vado does a much better job with skin tones and saturation (generally) compared to the other two in indoor situations. The HDMI cable may be another win for you and the Vado, but I seldom use video out in these cameras – so that’s just a value add. Hardware controls are comfortable on the Vado, and I like how its USB connector is flexible.

Now, you can watch the following videos inline – but I’d also recommend viewing them on YouTube (where you can watch the original 1280×720 as recorded and uploaded without editing). I’ve linked to the HD versions in the list above. Understand, too, that the Zi6 was at least six inches behind both the Flip Mino HD and Creative Vado HD in this test – even though it appears as though the Creative Vado HD was the furthest away. I’m telling you: that wide angle lens is AWESOME.

Flip Mino HD

Kodak Zi6

Creative Vado HD

50 YouTube (and Online Video) Tips and Tricks

Chris — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 07:13:10 +0000

50 YouTube (and Online Video) Tips and Tricks is a post from Chris Pirillo

Given that this is the 8,000th post to my blog, and I just passed 50,000 YouTube subscribers last night, I wanted to make this post something special. With any luck, the content herein is just the beginning of a series of suggestions that could turn into something more (either here, or in an eBook). People ask me how I do what I do all the time, especially when it comes to live video or my videos on YouTube.

It’s a numbers game. YouTube is now 25% of the Internet’s search traffic, and if you’re not doing something on YouTube, you’re… crazy. Yes, you can still place your videos on a variety of other video hosting services – but if you’re not putting them on YouTube, you’re missing a HUGE opportunity.

Video is easy to “do” these days. You actually have to go out of your way to screw things up. You no longer need to go through some video editing guru to get something done – and you don’t need to spend much money to get going. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you already had everything you needed to be placed on the path to YouTube success.

You’ve been thinking about recording and uploading videos for some time now, but you just didn’t know where to start. You were afraid to start? If I can be of any assistance, then I’m more than happy to do so. Welcome to the first version of my “50 YouTube (and Online Video) Tips and Tricks” list. I did my best to stay away from the obvious, or at least spend a bit of time explaining WHY these semi-obvious points are worth making.

I’m also hoping that the rest of the community will extend this series of tips and tricks – and help make it their own…

Success is relative. For me, success was reaching 50,000 subscribers (which is currently more than Oprah has). For you, success might be something completely different – and that’s perfect. If you start judging your own level of success by somebody else’s metrics, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Have goals, but let them be YOUR goals. Set your own bar, and then set out to jump it.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine what video is worth. You’ll be enhancing, not undermining, your other Internet endeavors if you push your efforts to YouTube. If given a choice between watching something or reading about it, I’ll readily admit that I’d rather sit back in my chair and view a video than scan notes for more information. If you’re going to put a series of videos on YouTube, regular ol’ still-shot sequences are… yesterday’s news. Nothing demonstrates a product better than an actual demonstration.
Buy good cameras. This point should go without saying, but I’m surprised at just how many videos I’ve seen (on YouTube or beyond) that just weren’t watchable. Heck, even I’ve uploaded videos that I’d consider sub-par! I’ve experimented with a variety of devices, and am continuously looking at newer, better solutions for my efforts. Make the best with what you’ve got, but if you can get better – go better. In some cases, a regular ol’ Webcam will be sufficient. How does it look to YOU? Now, how does it look to OTHERS? Let me put it to you this way: nobody has ever complained about a video looking too good.
High resolution = higher quality. While it’s okay to record in a standard 4:3 format, 16:9 (widescreen) is not going away anytime soon. If you can record your videos in high definition, do it. 1280×720 pixels is the “HD” resolution that YouTube will host for you. The good news is that you can record in this size without spending much more than a couple hundred dollars these days – it’s quite affordable, and the results should speak for themselves.
What hue are you? Every camera should be color calibrated – be wary of any kind of automatic settings! It’s not likely that your webcam has a “white balance” feature in the software controls. If you’re using a camcorder, digital camera, et al, then there should be a “white balance” setting somewhere.
Buy a good microphone. I’ve made countless recommendations in the past (and will continue to do so), and few of them have cost more than $100. You don’t need to go all-out when it comes to basic audio equipment, and you won’t need much more than a USB port to use one that’s worth using. Sometimes, capturing good audio is impossible (because you’re limited by mobile recording devices, or something beyond your control), but make bad audio an exception – not the rule. We’ve got coupons for just about every USB mic available.
Lighting. If you are doing a product review or demonstration, your lighting is even more important than ever. People need to see what it is you are showing them. While you don’t necessarily need stage lighting, using sufficient light to project the details within your scene is crucial to producing a good video. The more light, the better. Having more than one light source will help alleviate any kind of shadows. You don’t want people reaching for their brightness controls when your face graces their screen. If they have to squint to see what you’re trying to show them, either you didn’t frame the shot well enough or it wasn’t well lit.
Create a scene. Think about what’s sitting behind you before you hit the record button. It’s very difficult to take someone seriously if behind them is a completely unmade bed, and junk scattered all over their dresser or desk. Yes, this may be your “lifestyle,” but it’s distracting to viewers. Just because you’re creating amateur content for the Web doesn’t mean you have to look unprofessional when doing it. There are going to be times when scene contents are a bit beyond your control, but do your best to remain cognizant that a video is much more than just you or the scene.
Find your voice. If you don’t have much of a personality on camera, you might as well not record. Let the real you shine through, and if you’re not very energetic… consider sticking to the written form of communication (assuming you can write well). Just because you can record video doesn’t mean you’re worth watching for longer than fifteen seconds. That’s about how much time you have to get someone’s attention.
Be yourself. If you’re using YouTube to catalyze discussions around your interests, then the worst thing you could do is come across as disingenuous. There are going to be people who will accuse you of being the worst human being on earth, but that doesn’t make it any less so if you’re… yourself.
Practice. You’re never going to get better by watching other people. Try recording some samples and upload them as private videos. Send the links to your friends and family, and ask them for feedback. Realize that you will learn from mistakes, and keep at it. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to show the world what you have to offer. If you’re unsure about how you’re doing, record the same segment three times. Watch every one of your takes, and select the one you like most. Will it take more time to do? Yes, but there’s nothing wrong with inching your way towards perfection.
Consider live streaming. Not only is it good practice, but people in your community may record your stream “behind the scenes” and post those clips on their own YouTube account, to which you are able to embed in your own blog, link to from your YouTube account, etc. This could help build your community and establish your brand. I don’t use or recommend live video services that don’t enable the user to capture (on demand) and download the recorded segment to upload elsewhere. I’ve also had to sacrifice a bit of overall video quality just so I could capture my community’s chat in many of my videos – that’s important to me. DISCLAIMER: I sit on Ustream.tv’s advisory board, but I was using their service and providing feedback before being invited.
Keep it simple. If your effort is overwhelming you, it’s not going to be fun – and if it’s not fun, then you’re not likely to stick with it for long. Some people get so caught up in having the most expensive camera, the most expensive microphone, the most expensive props, etc. Sometimes, all you need is… something, anything. Start small, then expand from there. Don’t make something more complex than it needs to be, especially when trying to communicate with other people. Keep It Simple, Smarty!
Value-add. What are you doing that’s different from everybody else? Your brand is a given, but what else are you doing that nobody else is doing? What’s that ONE thing that makes your videos stand out? It is important to find a niche that nobdy else is in. This helps provide perspective that others wouldn’t have thought of, and further establish your brand past your name, avatar, or Web address.
Have a hook. Start out differently with every video if you can. Draw people into what you’re going to share with them.
Stay on topic. Even I tend to ramble if I’m interested in a topic, but I do my best to at least keep the ramblings relevant to the reason I’m recording a video. Think of your YouTube videos as segments inside a larger show. If you need to refer to notes, then please rely on notes. If you like to improv, by all means – roll with the punches. Just keep ‘er flowing and going.
Don’t put people to sleep with your screencasts. If you have no energy in your voice, you’re not going to keep people listening for long. Unless there’s an absolute need to do a direct walkthru of software, you’re better off referring to it on a screen that’s facing the camera (with you as the subject of the scene). Not to mention, if your mouse isn’t moving within a screencast – the video is completely static. If you’re into editing videos, you could always switch to a screencast mid-video and then back out to you for the close. Keep that video lively!
Use humor. Funny is good, especially when it’s unexpected. If your sense of timing is off, the “funny moment” translates into an “excruciatingly painful experience.” You won’t be able to hear people laugh on the other side of the screen, sadly – and a random LOL doesn’t mean much. Funny, much like success, is relative – just don’t push it. If you can take a less-than-serious approach to your subject, go for it (lightheartedness breaks down barriers). A controled amount of silliness is oft preferred to a recorded display of i-ate-too-much-sugar-itis (a very fine line to walk, indeed).
Short is good. YouTube will limit (most) producers to 10 minutes, so it’s important that you use those 10 minutes wisely. Most people will tune out after the first minute, anyway. Doesn’t bode well for me, as most of the videos I record are closer to the 7 minute mark – but somehow, I’m able to make it work. The community doesn’t seem to mind, so I don’t mind either.
Give people something to look forward to. If you stick to a schedule, people will look forward to it. Like my webcam giveaway on Fridays – people are in the live chat waiting anxiously for the giveaway, and it is something that they look forward to every single week. This doesn’t mean you need to create your own giveaways, but it does mean that you need to have a routine people can put on their calendar and make a habit out of.
Give people a reason to send your video links to their friends. Many people don’t use YouTube’s search tool, but rely on the opinions of others. If someone comes across your video and finds it interesting, helpful, or funny, your chances of having them send it to someone they know increases. Likewise, if you are creating useful content, you can expect others to “Favorite” your videos, embed them in their blogs or social profiles, or share your creations with their friends via instant messages or email.
Stick with a signature. Assuming they make it through the entire video, give ‘em a familiar sign-off. For me, it’s saying something along the lines of: “We’ll ‘e’ ya later!” I started doing that back when I had a show on WHO Radio back in the day, and I took that signature with me when I began hosting a television show – adding a “three finger salute” to the mix. That’s what geeks used to call the CTRL+ALT+DEL keyboard shortcut.
Don’t let them go without knowing where you are. The Web thrives on links. Assuming these videos can and will be extracted and embedded throughout the Web, everything you want to convey must be within the video itself. Don’t rely on descriptions and tags for everything (other than for discovery on YouTube itself).
Ask questions of your audience. You’re presenting a call-to-action in every video. Ask for feedback. The feedback may or may not be what you are looking for (remember the trolls), so be prepared for both positive and negative remarks.
Treat each one of your videos as though it were the only video that someone might watch. Each video should stand alone, even if it’s a part of a series. It should be complete, from stem to stern. Leave no stone unturned, even if you realize that your audience has heard the same thing before (like your signature sign-off).
Don’t be afraid to try something new every once in a while. If you usually record by yourself, consider having your girlfriend, spouse, children, or even your parents into a video. Change the view, change the tone, change the expectations of your viewers – who knows? Experiment. Try something extremely short-form if you’re used to doing long-form – or vice versa.
Stamp information on every one of your videos. When you upload something to the Internet, anybody can take that content and use it as their own – without necessarily giving you credit. For this reason, and this reason alone, I always take the extra step to add one of my domains (as a text overlay) to videos. Watermarking them with some kind of URL is going to make it more difficult for another person to use that video elsewhere without having them first jump through the hoops of eliminating my stamp. This text is made to be a part of the video itself. Yes, people have still ripped me off without keeping credit, but at least I’ve given casual users a hurdle to overcome before cheating me. This is also one of the reasons I refuse to use any third-party service to upload directly to YouTube (before being able to stamp my own information onto the video). Any software video editor should be able to help you do this.
If you want to use somebody else’s music, be sure to get the rights. Why risk a take-down? Find the appropriately Creative Commons licensed music or get permission. If you’re intent on using music in your video, and you’re unsure of licencing, then (once your video is uploaded) use the “AudioSwap” tool that is one click away from any video on your My Videos page.
Don’t get hung up on title screens or post-roll credits. They’re necessary for television shows, but you’re not creating a television show – are you? If anything, rely on your production routine to add “lower thirds” (graphics or text that might run along the bottom of your video).
Use annotations! When YouTube added the annotations feature, I wasn’t sure what to make of them. However, after realizing I could place an annotation over the entire length of the video to tease people to related videos that I had recorded (or to community videos / responses), I started to integrate them into all of my videos. You’ll find the “Edit Video” button on any one of your pages. There, you’ll see the “Annotations” feature – and you can use this to place call outs or hyperlinks to any other page on YouTube. They’ll display over your videos on YouTube and in all embeds – all the more reason to use the “note” annotation, which allows for the insertion of YouTube URLs.
Use the bulk upload tool. If you’ve recorded more than one video to be added to your account, or if one of your videos is over 100 megabytes in size, then this tool will come in handy. No matter, this is my preferred method of uploading directly to YouTube, if only because it’s the only one that gives you a percentage upload indicator. You can upload higher-quality videos with ease!
You don’t need to edit video to make great videos. I do everything “live-to-tape” because editing video is a pain in the AVID. Yes, I sometimes have to shoot take after take after take – but I also don’t have to edit video when I’m finished! They say that it takes one hour of video editing time to produce one minute of footage. That’s not a stretch. I might get through 90% of my effort before stopping and starting over again – because I know I could do it better, or if I wasn’t energetic enough. This may take practice, but it will also (potentially) save you mountains of time in the short and long-run. At most, with this approach, all you should ever need to remove is space at the beginning or end of a recording.
Capture attention with your title. Keep it relevant to your topic, and make it something that people would be drawn to click. This information field is also indexable, so you REALLY need to be sure it is relevant to the content you’ve produced. It will show up in the “Related Videos” sidebar widget as well. Be succinct, pithy, and lead people into watching and subsequently commenting or fowarding your creation.
Lead with a link in your description. One of the few places that YouTube allows you to pass along a live hyperlink is in your video’s description field. Just be sure you write it like it might appear in your browser’s address bar. For example: geeks.pirillo.com/ – just like that (and yes, I recommend always using a trailing slash with URLs). This will be the first thing people see when they go to read the description for your video. Make it something actionable!
Use tags, profusely. People will likely find your videos through search – and using relevant tags are key for discovery. Tags are nothing more than keywords, linking people to videos which also contain the same tags. Not only will this help you attain more views from YouTube searches, it’ll also help categorize your own videos on YouTube (in an ad hoc manner).
Put extended show notes somewhere. Today, most search engines can’t index the audio found within videos – nor is any given video thumbnail information-dense. Without a fair amount of corresponding text, few will ever discover what you’ve recorded. At least, the option is there to read and/or watch and/or listen. Video without separate text notes is like corn flakes without the milk.
Bring people elsewhere. Chances are, you have your own Web site – so why not let people know about it? They can’t read your mind, and they likely won’t research it on their own. Mention a site, potentially, at the beginning of your video – most certainly at the end. If you don’t have your own site, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t run out and get one ASAP. Tease people back to your blog, to a service that can benefit their specific needs, or to a community that you’ve set up for them. They may never come, but they certainly won’t if you don’t invite them or give them a reason to look. Don’t be afraid to share the addresses to your social profiles on the Internet (Twitter and the like).
Get your community involved. If you’re not engaging your audience, you’ll find growth to be a tremendous challenge. Don’t assume that your community consists only of close friends and family. If your videos are public, it will make sense to expect others to find them. Your content will have a great role in these people subscribing to you and expecting more.
Don’t feed the trolls. This should come to no surprise, but the level of intelligence found in most YouTube comment threads borders between “insane” and “inane.” It’s perfectly fine to respond to feedback in a clear fashion, so long as you keep your own wits about you – realizing that YOU are in control of what stays and what goes there. Constructive criticism should never be ignored, but addressed (and that’s not to be confused with outright flames).
“Viral” isn’t a marketing strategy. Viral means contagious, and that people can’t get enough of it. This is a good thing, and something you should keep in mind when recording your videos. It’s also something you can’t expect, even if your video is incredibly creative. The more important question to ask yourself is: are you creating good videos, or fluffy / unimportant things that nobody cares about?
It’s less about the defined (read: subscribed) audience, and more about the audience that will continue to discover your videos through keyword searches and established content discovery mechanisms. When Google started to intersperse YouTube videos with their organic search results, it suddenly became very important that you start uploading videos to YouTube. The trends are moving in an upward direction.
Embed elsewhere. If you have your own blog (and you should), you should be driving traffic back into your YouTube profile in every way possible. Link to your videos wherever you can, but be sure that they are relevant. Don’t be afraid to share your YouTube URLs with your Twitter followers, friends on Facebook, etc.
Not every video will be a hit. Spikes will come from runaway video hits (or seasonal videos). If you’re getting dozens of views over an extended period of time for most of your videos, it could be for a variety of reasons – none of which may be related to the value (or quality) of the video itself. It might be time to re-evaluate your strategy, or to look into other ways of generating genuine interest (NOT spamming).
Publish with regularity. You don’t necessarily need to stick to a daily, weekly, or monthly routine – but if you let too much time lapse between videos, your community will lose interest and forget about you. Stay on their minds. If you’re running out of material, DON’T repeat yourself – spend some time creating unique video responses for friends’ videos, possibly.
Post bulletins to your subscribers. You can attach one video thumbnail to each bulletin, so you might as well take the opportunity to let people know that you’ve done something YOU believe is worth watching. Hyperlinks will not come through as clickable, so don’t expect much traffic from them. Still, this is another piece of the YouTube puzzle.
Use one of your videos to respond to others (either your own, or someone else’s – hopefully, someone who knows who you are). You’ll find a “Post a Video Response” link on every video page – click it, then select the video you want to use as a response. Remember, you can respond to your own videos. The chances of someone watching a related video are rather high.
Make playlists. These will help you link your related content together, and make it easier for your community to find videos on specific topics. This will also help them stay on your YouTube page, and increase your video views. Moreover, you can add your own community members’ videos within the same playlist – further extending the interpersonal connection.
“Favorite” videos that your community makes. This will show your fellowship that you are doing your best to promote their creations, thereby (theoretically) increasing their visiblity (and highlighting their participation). This action will also show people that you are truly interested in what they have to share, potentially bringing you more viewers.
Complete your profile. Tell visitors about yourself – and if you haven’t already written a bio, there’s no time like the present to do so. If your list of credentials isn’t outstanding, start thinking about what you can do to further establish authority. Why would someone want to subscribe to you? Sell yourself, because you simply can’t expect that anybody else will. Remember, be yourself – and be honest. You can add or remove elements from your profile page at will, understanding that turning on profile comments is pretty much welcoming nothing but spam.
Support your most prolific supporters. If you notice that someone is consistently responding to you, following up with videos, sharing resources with you, etc. – give credit where credit is due. This will not only enhance their experience, but (believe it or not) it will increase your value to them – and hopefully, vice versa. Your supporters will continue to recommend your efforts, aiding your growth and viability.
Strive to be consistently complete and insightful rather than a flash-in-the-pan. If you’re deluded enough to believe that everything you upload will be a hit, you’re in for mind-numbing disappointment. It’s better to see a long string of pseudo-successes than it is to be a one-hit wonder.
If you’re going to focus your video on a product or service, if at all possible, have it in your hands (or somewhere near you). There are certainly going to be times when a discussion without product is warranted, but don’t feel obligated to share your opinion about an object that you’ve never touched. Your two cents may make more sense when you’re referring to something that you have sitting in front of you. People usually don’t want to hear why you think a product or service is great if you don’t have it.

Now, I’ve been thinking about fleshing out some of these points (as well as adding others) to compile a “YouTube eBook.” Is that something that might interest you?

Are there any other tips I may have left out? What are you doing to find your success on YouTube?

What YouTube Tools can You Recommend?

Chris — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:55:43 +0000

What YouTube Tools can You Recommend? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Rumor has it that when you reach 50,000 subscribers on YouTube, you are presented with 72 virgins. I’m not sure if that happens, but I’ll find out soon! If you want an easy way of turning any YouTube channel into a podcast, then there’s a website you need to check out. At YT Podcaster, you can convert YouTube videos into a Podcast to play on your iPod, Zune and more.

Simply enter a YouTube username to create a Video Podcast from their 20 most recent YouTube videos. Or alternately, enter the URL to a single YouTube video to download the MP4 file. That’s all you need to do! You’re one click away from subscribing to any YouTube channel, and being able to listen to your favorite videos on the go.

YT Podcaster is an easy way for you to change a regular old YouTube channel into a Podcast feed, completely with MP4 video enclosures. If you want a more convenient way to convert a YouTube video into MP4 format, you can also check this out. Type the word kick before the video URL. For example: http://www.kickyoutube.com/watch?v=WqQZQfD6jsk.

Instead of just the video, I now have a cool header above it. It gives me options to download the same video into nearly any format you can imagine. This is just another tool you may want to use to enhance your video watching experience.

What tools do you use for YouTube?

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Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

Are You Still Using a VCR for VHS Tapes?

Chris — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:35:36 +0000

Are You Still Using a VCR for VHS Tapes? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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So what do all the cool kids want for Christmas this year? They want a VCR, of course! It’s such a hot product, since it’s been running for awhile. A VCR can play VHS tapes, you know! Thank goodness I finally have a VCR of my own! I have here the new Ion USB VCR from the folks at ThinkGeek!

EZ VHS Converter software lets you burn your videos to DVD, watch on your PSP, iPod or laptop computer. Exported MPEG4 video is compatible with select mobile phones and portable multimedia devices. Connect your VHS, VHS-C, or 8MM camcorder to the front panel jacks to backup your camcorder videos. When you’re finished archiving your videos to your computer, VCR 2 PC is the perfect VHS player for any room in the house. Some of the main features include:

Connects to Windows XP and Vista machines via USB 2.0 port.
Capture video at resolutions up to 720 x 480 (NTSC) or 720 x 576 (PAL).
Sends video uncompressed over the USB cable.
Burn Video to DVD Export video to iPod or PSP format.
Plug and play USB computer connection Standard RCA and composite outputs for connection to any TV or home theater system.
Standard RCA inputs for connecting video cameras.
Auto-tracking, variable speed slow motion, playback, and rewind.
Soft-touch, backlit buttons.

The Ion VCR is an excellent device. How else can you turn any of your old VHS movies into something you can watch on today’s technology? It’s so easy to use! If you’re planning to get a VCR anyway, make sure you pick this up to turn your VHS tapes into something more useful.

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Spend $25 and get $5 coupon at Amazon MP3

Chris — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:45:58 +0000

Spend $25 and get $5 coupon at Amazon MP3 is a post from Chris Pirillo

Amazon MP3, Amazon’s music download store, just announced a cross-promotion with their CD and Electronics stores where purchases of $25 or more of qualifying CDs or Electronic items from Amazon gets customers a $5 credit at Amazon MP3. This promotion will run now through Christmas Day.

You can purchase a minimum of $25 worth of product(s) from their Music CD, Audio / Video, Camera, Photo & Video, Office Products, PC or Wireless stores in a single order and receive the $5 credit at Amazon MP3. And to make the deal even sweeter, both the Amazon CD and Electronics stores are promoting great deals and gift list ideas for the holiday season, so it will be easy to take advantage of this offer.

What can you get for a $5 credit on Amazon MP3? Find albums at $4.99 or less with Amazon MP3 Special Deals. Are you listening?

Amazon.com Widgets

Why I’m Switching from iPod to Zune

Chris — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:37:05 +0000

Why I’m Switching from iPod to Zune is a post from Chris Pirillo

This is Commander Lock’s submission for the HP Magic Giveaway. Feel free to leave comments for this article as you see fit – your feedback is certainly welcomed! If you’d like to submit your own how-to, what-is, or top-five list, you can send it to me. Views and opinions of this writer are not necessarily my own:

WARNING: There are opinions in this article which critique popular products under the Apple brand. This warning is for your own consideration. Though everything in this article is for entertainment purposes, all the opinions stated below are my own, and if you want to try and convince me otherwise, please do, as I appreciate other’s opinions. And please, hold the virtual tomatoes until the end. Thank you, and enjoy.

The way Apple ported iTunes for Windows was done quite poorly. It loads slow, takes up lots of resources, and is a pain in general. The store is nice, and I’ve bought songs and games from it, but the software itself is not getting high marks for performance or looks. ITunes has one color, no customization of appearances, and when not in its native OS X environment, it looks drab and a bit out of place. This is not to say it’s a bad-looking application, as I’m sure in OS X it looks fantastic with everything else having the same “Aqua” style – but in Windows OSes, specifically Vista and its Aero interface, it looks cut-and-paste from the OS X version, with little effort used in the transition. Performance of iTunes in Windows OSes has been pretty dismal for me, too. It takes a while to load up, pretty slow at importing songs and ripping CDs (sounds weird, but compared to the Zune, iTunes ripping is slow as molasses on a cold February morning), and so on.
The Zune device itself, specifically the 16GB 3rd-gen Flash model, is pretty appealing right now. On Amazon, this model costs only $165.51 without shipping & handling rates, and I will admit I am a sucker for low prices. Getting back to the device itself, I have used Zunes in passing before, when the Flash models came out. The touch features are pretty easy to get used to and the interface makes sense, since things are no longer “buried” beneath menus like in iPods; it is much more “fluid” and smoother than the iPod’s “Aqua” style overall.
The much-touted Wi-Fi features of the Zune is something of a big slap with a massive fish to Apple’s R&D team as it just makes sense – why the need to plug in your device just to put on a few songs or update a podcast? This is especially cool with the new “Marketplace through Wi-Fi” features on the device itself – all Zunes get this with software updates. So yeah, pretty cool device by itself. Missing an audio recorder, but I have yet to see one on an MP3 player that’s actually good. Automatic playlists, you may say… I like knowing what I’m going to listen to next. It’s like a movie theater making you pay $8 for a random movie. I don’t want to end up watching what some algorithm says I want to listen to.
The Marketplace on the Zune software is impressive – it works well with barely a hitch, and same with the on-device Marketplace over Wi-Fi. In iTunes, the Store is in stark contrast with the style of iTunes – blue background, squares for all the art, and it is a bit slow in comparison. The “Mixview” feature of the Zune Marketplace is awesome – it shows the artist you’re looking at, surrounded by suggestions and why they were selected, like influences / inspiration of other artists, related, similar genre, etc. The “Social” aspect of the Zune software is integrated nicely, and since I already have an Xbox Live account to link it to, getting it up and running was easy. Microsoft is really pushing the Social part of this franchise, but I’m only in it for tech support on their forums if I ever need it. The “Microsoft Points” system used on both Marketplaces (Live and Zune) was a good idea – leftover points from purchases on Live can be used on Zune, and vice versa. Granted, I’d still have to buy the bundles of points, but I’m used to that.
Of course, buying off the Zune site allows for custom artwork, something the iPod (as far as I can predict) will never do, as to invade the iPod’s serene blankness that looks all too bleak and boring to me. A Zune with the artwork and text would be unique to me, unlike the millions of identical iPods, skins or without skins. It is all still the same recognizable shape and design, including the iPhone /iPod Touch. I want to be more than the average – dare I say it – sheepish iPod user. I can honestly say that most of my friends who have MP3 players of some sort have an iPod or want an iPod, thinking of it to be in this magical, higher echelon of technology and grant passage into the grandest heights of their social ladder on Facebook. In short, I don’t give two *bleeps* about the social ladder and the iPod hasn’t gotten me any girls, so I guess it’s too widespread to have its “you got an iPod?!” charm anymore.
Zunes are no longer the oddball player in the MP3 Player market, which by now is more like the “Who will make the iPod Killer” market. The Zune is, as it turns out, getting closest to being the iPod’s main contender. Though certainly the iPod’s appeal as an already “established” device will be very hard to overcome for Microsoft, let alone the rest of the companies like Archos, Sansa, Samsung, Sony, and many others that have quality MP3 players in their product line-up but seem to fade away when in the same store aisle as the iPod. I think if more people bought these “iPod contenders,” we would see the fruits of healthy competition arise; better quality products, more bang for the buck, and hoping for brand-making features, like the fantastic feature of the 4th Generation iPod Nano to… well… shake and bake shuffle? Apple needs to think beyond gimmicks and really get some innovation going on here. I think it’s ironic how Apple’s motto used to be “Think Different” while the majority of MP4 players are iPods. By me, “thinking different,” I’m seeking to ditch the iPod, iTunes, and getting their rival’s player instead. It is a funny world we live in, isn’t it?

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from GoDaddy includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter code CP2 at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.