Embedding YouTube Video (not a discussion topic)

Some of you may be interested in embedding video (or other media) in your blog. There are a couple of ways to do this. The first is to use the built in video player in Blogger that you can find when you are using the customize blog option. This will pop the video up at the top of your blog when the user plays it. The problem is that this may not be what you want to do.

A second option is to use the embed code that YouTube gives you, which looks something like this:

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wuZc8B9AdFw&rel=1"></param><paramhttp://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfwvb5mw_61gth58z# Publish name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wuZc8B9AdFw&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

It comes out looking like this:









Here's the problem with that, while it works well for the main blog (and you want to make sure you copy it into your blog entry in HTML mode), it does not work well in a sidebar where you need a smaller version. Here's another video (it's on the right hand bar as well), with the code modified--I cut all the dimensions in half. Note that you have to tweak the numbers in the <object> tag and in the <embed> tag. I also added an extra paragraph tag at the beginning to bump the video down a bit and a <center> tag so that the video sits in the center of the page.

<p></p><center><object width="212" height="177"><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2Uaw2CdjU3c&rel=1" name="movie"/><param value="transparent" name="wmode"/><embed width="212" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2Uaw2CdjU3c&rel=1" wmode="transparent" height="177" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></center>

Handy isn't it? This also means that if you are putting your video podcasts on YouTube you can embed them directly into your blog.

Speaking of video, if you want to use images in Garageband, but are unsure how to do it, check out my podcast offering for this week. It's a bit simplistic, but should work. In an ideal world, I would have used a screen recorder, which I think is going to be included in Leopard, the new version of OSX due out shortly.

See you in class.

New Media and Politics (for discussion in class)

On a July evening in 2003, over 100 people attended a meeting at a brew pub in Alexandria, Virginia to support Howard Dean's candidacy for president of the United States. Normally, a meeting like that would not be merit inclusion in a national paper. Yet, USA Today found the meeting worth writing about as part of their article "Online, off and running: Web a new campaign front." The reporters pointed out that the meeting was newsworthy on three accounts. First, it was set up using the social networking site Meetup.com. Second, the social networking-based meeting was being replicated in over 300 cities nationwide. Finally, all of the sessions shared a member-generated project, writing to potential voters in the upcoming Iowa primary. Dean's campaign was clearly ahead of the curve for mobilizing people using the Web. His bid for the democratic nomination, was not, however, successful. He did not fair well in the primaries and his campaign imploded in part due to the Web and his infamous "Dean Scream" following the Iowa Primary. The scream quickly began circulating online. It was reused, remixed, and repurposed (okay, I couldn't resist the alliteration)--it was even added to Dramatic Prairie Dog. This is in addition to being parodied on television.

The 2004 election was not, however, the first time the Internet had played a role in a national election. According to the USA Today article mentioned above, Jerry Brown used email to help with fund raising in 1992 and credits former professional wrestler Jessie Ventura's 1998 election as governor of Minnesota to the Internet. By the 2004 presidential campaign, the Web and the Internet were clearly playing a major role in politics. Of the$36 million John Kerry's campaign raised in June 2004, $12 million came from online donors. Overall, 80% of donors age 18-34 donated online. As the 2008 campaign moves into high gear, the candidates are clearly taking advantage of the Web, and particularly Web 2.0. Senator Hillary Clinton, and most others running for president, maintains both office and campaign Web sites as well as sites on MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, flickr, and eons. Visitors and supporters are encouraged to start their own blogs, buy Hillary paraphanaelia, watch "HillCast" (see the video section), and of course contribute. Having visited the Clinton campaign site (and using her site as an example should be construed as an endorsement), check out the sites of the some of the other candidates. Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul is seen by some pundits as this year's Howard Dean (in a positive sense), leveraging the Web, and particularly Web 2.0 technologies, to garner national attention, though not, as you will see in the article, without some criticism.

Even the debates have taken a Web 2.0 turn, particularly through YouTube's YouChoose channel. The Democratic debate on YouTube was met with mixed reviews. The Republican debate is scheduled on November 28. Even Second Life has become a political venue with virtual offices staffed by volunteers and the occasional virtual appearance by candidates--not to mention the virtual defacement of virtual campaign offices.

Needless to say, blogs are playing an increasing role in the campaigns, as are podcasts. If you have any doubt about podcasts, just do a search on iTunes--in fact do a search on iTunes and report back on what you find. Pick a couple to listen to. Wondering about blogs? Etalkinghead provides a great list of blogs sorted by type. The question is, of course, how and if this will change the political scene. If you took EM&C 3300, you may remember some discussion on cybercascades--the idea that sites dedicated to a cause tend to only link to sites that have similar views. People both in and outside of academia have raised a concern that blogs and the Web in may lead to a fragmentation of American society, others have argued that while the bloggers may make a difference, they tend to follow rather than lead. So what do you think? How do you see the move to new media campaign tools changing politics in the United States and why do you think it is changing or not changing? Is it something we should be worried about? Is there a direction you think we should be heading in but are not?

*Apologies for not having flyovers in this weeks blog. Google Docs quit working as I was finished this and I had to relink everything again.

Need a copy of your RSS file for iTunes (RSSI)?

Right click on the link for your feed and save the file. The link in the iTunes list doesn't work because it is an itpc link rather than HTML

• EMAC 4300 Podcast (iTunes)
• Kristen Augelli's Podcast (iTunes)


• Max Bhakta's Podcast (iTunes)
• Jacqueline Garza's Podcast (iTunes)
• Lauryn Lecuyer's Podcast (iTunes)
• Matt Lopez's Podcast (iTunes)
• Patrick Moreland's Podcast (iTunes)
• Ron Oswalt's Podcast (iTunes)
• Justin Ramirez's Podcast (iTunes)
• Mickey Savage's Podcast (iTunes)
• Zach Tijerina's Podcast (iTunes)

Let me know if you have questions.

Web 2.0 (this will be discussed in class)

(pay attention to the mouse overs)

What is Web 2.0? We tend to throw the term around a lot, but can we actually define it? The designation 2.0 indicates an entirely new version, not just an incremental upgrade to the existing system. Wikipedia, itself often considered a Web 2.0 product, says that Web 2.0

"refers to a perceived second generation of web-based communities and hosted services — such as social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies — which aim to facilitate collaboration and sharing between users. The term became popular following the first O'Reilly Media Web 2.0 conference in 2004. Although the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to any technical specifications, but to changes in the ways software developers and end-users use the web. According to Tim O'Reilly, "Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform."

Some technology experts, notably Tim Berners-Lee, have questioned whether one can use the term in a meaningful way, since many of the technology components of "Web 2.0" have existed since the early days of the Web." (all links are from the original Wikipedia article)

Internet pundit Tim O'Reilly describes Web 2.0 in part as "The Web as Platform,"--the Web page is actually an application. Some of these applications, such as Google Docs, which I am using to write my post right now, are clearly applications. By the way, the handy little rollovers you see when you mouse over the links on this post are created in Google Docs, which includes a word processor that can post directly to Blogger and other blog accounts. Other "Web 2.0" products include many of the social networking sites people use, MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, and many others. The intelligent ads, Adsense developed by Google are also part of this transition. Many of these products rely on user created content, be it content a user physically creates or content that the user finds. Example of the latter would be Digg and Slashdot. One of the things that makes Web 2.0 intriguing to me, and others, is that so many of the technologies can be tied into each other. For example, I'm writing this in Google Docs, posting it to Blogger, and if I wanted to, I could embed the YouTube video clips I've linked to directly into my Blogger page.

The technology behind many of the technologies is Ajax, Asynchronous JavaScript + XML. Wikipedia's article on Ajax is worth reading over. If you are planning to work in new media, you've got to at least know what the term means and the basics of what's going on.

Several people have tried to put the ideas of Web 2.0 into short video. Michael Welsh, a professor at Kansas State University posted a short video early this year which tried to define the idea of Web 2.0. You can also read a transcript of an early version. He's not alone, here's another short video, based in part on the Wikipedia article, describing Web 2.0.

Not surprisingly, there are podcasts that are geared specifically to Web 2.0 issues. The Web 2.0 Show discusses many of the Web 2.0 technologies and products, as well as providing interviews with a variety of people involved in the industry. Episode 1 includes an interview with the founder of Wordpress, a blogging tool/site, and a discussion of what Web 2.0 is. It's also an example of how to use a blog/Web site to support a podcast. Note the subscribe options on the page. You might also check out the Web 2.0 Summit podcasts on iTunes--no I don't expect you to listen to all of them, but it's worth listening to at least one (or part of one). While you are in iTunes, see what else you can find on technology and Web 2.0.

By the time you've finished reading this entry AND have gone through the links inside of it, you should be forming an opinion as to what Web 2.0 is. I'd like to hear your version of what Web 2.0 is, as well as find out what your favorite Web 2.0 products are. So, in the comments section, tell me what you think Web 2.0 is and what your favorite apps are.

Oh, and don't forget, at least one or two of you are supposed to be presenting a podcast series in class....

Thoughts on blogs and podcasts and exporting for the iPod

Here are some thoughts on the blogs and the podcasts:

1. Find ways to get listener to use both your blog and your podcast
2. Make sure you provide links on the blog to any Web addresses you mention directly on the podcast
3. Consider looking for some intro music other then the music in Garage Band
4. Be careful about natural sound in the background of the interview, make sure it isn't too jarring and be ready to fade in/out or add some separating sounds to make the audio flow--much like watching for jump cuts in video
5. The text you use for linking to your podcasts should be descriptive
6. Create a button specifically for your podcast--think about it as a promotional tool
7. Pay attention to your audio levels, make sure they are consistent throughout the podcast
8. Before using the equipment for an actual interview, run a test interview with a friend so you know how close you need to be to the microphone
9. Make sure the colors scheme on your blog doesn't pose a usability/accessibility problem, watch for text that does not have enough contrast with the background and/or text that can be difficult to read--large blocks of text on a black background, particularly red text (here's a tool to see what the colors look like)
   

Getting your podcast ready for the iPod:

If you are using Avid or iMovie, the process is straightforward. In iMovie, use the share menu and select the iPod option. In Avid, use the export option and select "iPod." If you are using another program you will want to read through the podcast article from Apple to get the settings. Preparing the video for YouTube is covered here. I have found a couple of articles on this as well including "How to upload a video to YouTube," "Upload video to YouTube from your mobile," a blog entry called "Best Way to Upload Video to YouTube on a Mac," and an article called "Help-Key: How to Optimize Your Video for YouTube."

Requirements for the Podcasts

I'm in the process of reviewing the podcasts for this week and will have feedback for you in class on Monday. Here are the general guidelines for the podcasts from here on out

• Script/outline - this does not need to be word for word for what you record, but you've got to do it before you start recording. Preparing it before you go into the studio will save you a tremendous amount of time in the studio. One of the students commented that preparing the script ahead of time meant that he could record the spoken part of the podcast in one take.
• Natural sound and/or interviews - your podcast should include one or both of these. The podcast should not just sound like you sat down in front of the computer and began recording. Even an instructional piece can incorporate some natural sound.
• Time: 5-10 minutes.
• Format:
  Audio- MP3 and/or M4A: Remember not everyone can play the M4A format
  Video- MOV or M4V: We will be talking about converting video to iPod and YouTube formats next class.

If you need a video converter for the Mac, checkout handbreak. I'll look for some other options as well for both platforms.

See you Monday!

An introduction (sort of) to YouTube

Have I used YouTube before? Sure, we all have. I’ve used it to provide material for class--what better way to introduce a unit on the telegraph to a lecture class than Monty Python’s “Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights"? Where else are you going to find the Volkswagon advertisement with the suicide bomber that caused so much controversy right before class? It's been handy for those moments when I've been debating the lyrics to a song such as the "Merry Minuet" by the now somewhat obscure group, the Kingston Trio (dang they took down the concert video, must have been a copyright issue--at least I can still see a clip from the first Grateful Dead show I went to). It's been handy for those odd skills you want to learn like using chromakey or lockpicking. You can look for the latest on your choice of political candidates in the section called YouChoose. You can even find people who will offer you a guided tour of YouTube.

As you wander through YouTube, you'll notice that there are a basic set of categories you can choose from as well as "channels," which work suspiciously like a podcast. Oh, and some of the material may be less than safe for work, though YouTube does have a set of guidelines for submitting video. Oone of the big no-nos is copyright infringement, not surprising given the Viacom-Google lawsuit (and here ). Google, is of course, YouTube's parent company. There are other lawsuits out there as well, one of the most recent is from recording artist Prince. One of YouTube's attempts to tackle the copyright issue has been to limit the length of videos to ten minutes, not that people haven't been known to upload individual segments. YouTube has also gotten in trouble with the Thai government for a video that insulted the king, resulting in the Thai government blocking access to YouTube for several months.

Not everyone is upset over the repurposing of material. In an interview with Wired magazine, CBS President Leslie Moonves argued "If there's a one-minute clip of CSI, or user-generated clips like different shots of David Caruso taking off his glasses, that's great promotion. If they were showing a whole episode of CSI and we weren't getting paid, we'd object." He added that he was in favor of multiple delivery platforms "They're all good. We don't care how you get our content — over the air, over cable, satellite, the Internet, or on your cell phone — as long as we get paid for it."

One of the keys to operations such as YouTube is finding a way to make them profitable. The most common way is through advertising, YouTube is not exception. They have tried a couple of options including banner ads above the videos and a translucent banner over the bottom of the video. Rather than making this a requirement for videos, YouTube has elected to work with select video partners. The goal is to link the ads to the video content, much like Google does with its search engine. YouTube is not only one hoping to make money through advertising, the difference is that outside companies are trying to use viral ads and product placement. Imomus of Wired worries that this may change the nature of user-created content on YouTube.

"Put these developments together and a rather sobering -- and strangely exciting -- idea emerges: We're all involved in the future of advertising. Anyone with a video blog is, potentially, just one irresistible offer away from becoming a corporate stooge, a sock puppet, a product placer, an astroturfer, a shill. An industry that once confined itself to Madison Avenue is now operating from your town, your street, your bedroom. It's using your voice, your sex appeal, your mannerisms. If you can grab eyeballs, it'll pay for them."

My personal concern is the amount time I find myself spending on YouTube when I start looking for something. This blog cost me at least a couple of hours that I'll never get back. Did I really need to learn about Dramatic Prairie, where the original clip came from, or how many other people have repurposed the video? Oh, and here's what I was originally looking for, how to prepare your video for YouTube, and strange to say, I couldn't find a decent YouTube clip on the process.

What are your thoughts on YouTube? Make sure you read through the links for class.

Even more on RSS feeds or, things I hate about Blogger

If you are in my class, you know that RSS feeds have been more than a little vexing this semester. I spent some time looking around on the Blogger forums and FAQs. What I think I've discovered is that there is a know issue with Blogger doing exactly what it seems to be doing in class--not letting go of the(explicative deleted) RSS feed. The simple, though inelegant solution to this is use standard links for the adding the podcast to the page. But wait you say, I though RSS was important! It still is. The iTunes RSS feed discussed in the last post generally won't work with programs outside of iTunes, after all, the XML tags have "iTunes" in them, so you'll want to include another RSS option for them. I've linked to the one I've set up for mine on the right side of the page. I've also included a link to a button creator. Well, on to the next topic...preparing a list of podcasts for the class to listen to. Don't forget to check the blog for changes, or better yet, subscribe to the blog using the Atom link at the bottom of the page.