Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Man Goes to Prison for Threatening Eric Cantor on YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/norman-lebook-prison-for-eric-cantor-threats-on-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/norman-lebook-prison-for-eric-cantor-threats-on-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/norman-lebook-prison-for-eric-cantor-threats-on-youtube/#commentsA man named Norman LeBoon is headed to prison after making threats to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a video posted to YouTube. In the clip, the 38-year-old LeBoon called the Republican "a liar" and "a Lucifer," and promised to shoot him. LeBoon pleaded guilty to the charges in November, and, on Thursday, was sentenced to two years in prison, along with an additional three years of supervised release.

SwitchedMan Goes to Prison for Threatening Eric Cantor on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimeEricCantorlawpoliticsprisonrepublicansThreattopvideoWebyoutubeFri, 08 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Adding 'Channels' to YouTube, Looking to Compete With TV]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/google-youtube-channels-coming-soon/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/google-youtube-channels-coming-soon/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/google-youtube-channels-coming-soon/#commentsGoogle is looking to make some major changes to YouTube in an attempt to keep up with the expansion in services that allow users to stream content directly to their TVs.

Sources close to the matter told the Wall Street Journal that YouTube is planning to introduce new channels on the site, featuring both professionally produced, original content, as well as content that already exists on the platform. The channels will be highlighted on YouTube's homepage, and will be organized by category. The company is already holding discussions with Hollywood talent agencies about creating new channels, and may end up spending as much as $100 million on the overhaul.

Continue reading Google Adding 'Channels' to YouTube, Looking to Compete With TV

SwitchedGoogle Adding 'Channels' to YouTube, Looking to Compete With TV originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadcastchannelgooglegoogle+tvgoogletvhuluNetflixoverhaulstreamingtoptvvideoWebyoutubeyoutube+channelsYoutubeChannelsThu, 07 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Oops: YouTube's April Fools' Button Also Makes Horrible Things More Horrible]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/oops-youtubes-april-fools-button-also-makes-horrible-things-m/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/oops-youtubes-april-fools-button-also-makes-horrible-things-m/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/oops-youtubes-april-fools-button-also-makes-horrible-things-m/#comments youtube '1911' YouTube's April Fools' gag -- a "1911" button that turns any video into an old-timey silent film, complete with syncopated piano and sepia tone -- maybe isn't so hilarious for all videos. Gawker points to 9/11 footage, the Rodney King beating, WikiLeaks' infamous Apache helicopter footage and newscasts of the Japanese tusnami as examples of video not exactly benefiting from YouTube's knee-slapping antics.

Will this be the day's meme? Find the saddest video on YouTube and make it even sadder with a ragtime soundtrack? We have a few ideas:
You get the idea. And now we're going to cry.

SwitchedOops: YouTube's April Fools' Button Also Makes Horrible Things More Horrible originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1911+button1911buttonapril foolsAprilFoolsoffensiveoopstopwebyoutube+april+foolsyoutube+april+fools+2011youtubeaprilfoolsyoutubeaprilfools2011Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:46:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools' Day: The Most Horrible Time of the Year]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/april-fools-day-the-most-horrible-time-of-the-year/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/april-fools-day-the-most-horrible-time-of-the-year/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/april-fools-day-the-most-horrible-time-of-the-year/#comments Google Motion Sadly, April Fools' Day has arrived. Every year on this day, tech companies across the country and the globe spend countless man hours and millions of dollars playing pranks on hapless consumers and frustrated tech journalists. In the past, we've been treated to such delightful jokes as Gmail Paper and every link on YouTube leading to a rickroll. Even NASA got in on the action by announcing it had found water on Mars in 2005, posting a Photoshopped image of a glass of water on the Red Planet. And today the Internet rolled out the prank parade again, trying to outdo last year's shenanigans. Here's a few from around the Web, including a torrent of tomfoolery from Google.

Continue reading April Fools' Day: The Most Horrible Time of the Year

SwitchedApril Fools' Day: The Most Horrible Time of the Year originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april foolsApril Fools DayAprilFoolsAprilFoolsDaygooglehululolzthinkgeektopwebyoutubeFri, 01 Apr 2011 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[The Biebs's 'Baby' Dominates YouTube With 500 Million Views]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/justin-bieber-baby-youtube-hits-500-million-views/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/justin-bieber-baby-youtube-hits-500-million-views/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/justin-bieber-baby-youtube-hits-500-million-views/#comments
Oh, Justin Bieber. How did the Internet even cope before you were around? His music video for 'Baby' just surpassed 500 million views, making it the most viewed video in YouTube history. But with 1.1 million "dislikes," the video also, and ever so slightly, edges out Rebecca Black's 'Friday' for the distinction of most hated. Basically, Bieber's stuff is the most watched, most disliked, and most debate-inspiring. How on Earth did Internet denizens occupy themselves pre-Bieber?

Or, as one of the video's 4.3 million commenters (oh, we forgot to mention that part) put it: "half billion OMG." We know, we know; you're not part of that very special sub-section of humanity. But half a billion?! OMG. You know you're going to give in sooner or later.

SwitchedThe Biebs's 'Baby' Dominates YouTube With 500 Million Views originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500+million+views500millionviewsBieberFevercelebritiesdislikejustin+bieberjustin+bieber+2011justin+bieber+youtubeJustinBieberjustinbieber2011JustinBieberBabyjustinbieberyoutubemost+viewed+youtube+videomostviewedyoutubevideomusicMusicVideostopvideoyoutubeMon, 28 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Time to Turn Those YouTube Accounts Into Google Accounts]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/time-to-turn-those-youtube-accounts-into-google-accounts/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/time-to-turn-those-youtube-accounts-into-google-accounts/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/time-to-turn-those-youtube-accounts-into-google-accounts/#commentsAnyone still using old-school YouTube accounts (created before May 2009) will have to bite the bullet in the coming weeks and transition to a Google account. Understanding that there may be some resistance, Google points out the convenience of a single sign-on system, and touts the added features and improved security that a Google account can provide. So suck it up, holdouts, and link those accounts.

SwitchedTime to Turn Those YouTube Accounts Into Google Accounts originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googletopwebyoutubeFri, 25 Mar 2011 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Goes Gaga When the Lady Drops by Mountain View]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/lady-gaga-drops-by-google/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/lady-gaga-drops-by-google/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/lady-gaga-drops-by-google/#comments
If the Google facility were suddenly transported to another dimension, most of the more influential individuals in the Western world would disappear. And, in many ways, The Googleplex was transported the other day -- by the weird and wonderful Lady Gaga, who stopped by for a marathon interview with Google's Marissa Mayer (using fan-voted questions). She talked bullying, her next single and playing Cole Porter. Props to her for volleying the semi-awkward and over-rehearsed geekiness of Mayer. We like Mayer, but would've preferred it if she had not pulled out her own Lady Gaga Halloween photos.

SwitchedGoogle Goes Gaga When the Lady Drops by Mountain View originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesgooglegoogle+gagagoogle+goes+gagagoogle+lady+gagagooglegagagooglegoesgagagoogleladygagagoogleplexlady+gagaLadyGagaMarissaMayermusicmusicianstopyoutubeWed, 23 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Launches Person Finder for Japanese Earthquake Victims]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/youtube-person-finder-makes-tsunami-victims-identifiable/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/youtube-person-finder-makes-tsunami-victims-identifiable/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/youtube-person-finder-makes-tsunami-victims-identifiable/#comments With Japan still reeling from the recent tsunami and earthquakes, social media continues to play an invaluable role. The latest comes in the form of the YouTube Person Finder, a channel that aggregates videos posted by disaster victims, and allows them to pass along messages to their loved ones.

Currently, the channel hosts only a few dozen videos taken at shelters and shot by the Japanese station TBS; in the future, though, individuals will be able to upload their own messages. Those looking for loved ones can search by name, hometown or shelter. Like Google's Person Finder, it's a relatively simple creation with potentially massive implications for those involved.

SwitchedYouTube Launches Person Finder for Japanese Earthquake Victims originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googleGooglePersonFinderjapanJapanEarthquakeJapanTsunamiPersonFinderSocialMediaSocialNetworkingtopwebyoutubeYoutubePersonFinderMon, 21 Mar 2011 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[The Web Turns a Bullied Boy Into a Hero]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/web-turns-casey-heynes-into-hero/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/web-turns-casey-heynes-into-hero/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/web-turns-casey-heynes-into-hero/#comments Casey Heynes as The Hulk A boy from Sydney, Australia has gone from victim to Internet hero practically overnight. A recently posted video shows the 16-year-old Casey Heynes absorbing abuse from a much smaller (and younger) bully before finally snapping, lifting the other boy in the air and slamming him to the concrete -- hard. The footage has made the rounds not only online, but onto mainstream media news shows in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. While the school disapproved of the retaliations and suspended both students, the "victim" has become an online hero to others who have suffered at the hands of bullies. The video has spawned a Street Fighter remix (dubbing the "hero" Little Zangief) and seen Casey turned into the Hulk by the Taiwanese computer animators at the infamous NMA News. On Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, he has been applauded for turning the tables on his tormentor.

While it's always gratifying to see someone get their comeuppance, the video makes us a tad uneasy. It's hard to ignore the fact that Casey is four years older than the bully he takes out, and almost twice his size. Sure, fighting back against constant mocking and physical assaults is an understandable impulse for many of us, but it's hard to call body-slamming a 12-year-old heroic.

Continue reading The Web Turns a Bullied Boy Into a Hero

SwitchedThe Web Turns a Bullied Boy Into a Hero originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaaustralia+bullyaustraliabullybullybullyingcasey heynescasey+bully+videocasey+heynes+bullycaseybullyvideoCaseyHeynescaseyheynesbullylittle zangiefLittleZangiefmemestopwebyoutubeFri, 18 Mar 2011 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese UC Student Finds Family Safe and Sound on YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/akiko-kosaka-finds-family-via-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/akiko-kosaka-finds-family-via-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/akiko-kosaka-finds-family-via-youtube/#comments
Akiko Kosaka, a 20-year-old student at the University of California Riverside, was one of many people looking everywhere she could for information about her loved ones in Japan -- a family that includes two sisters, parents and paternal grandparents, all of whom lived under one roof in the fishing village of Minami Sanriku. Kosaka eventually received word that her youngest sister was safe and in a shelter at her middle school, but the rest of her family remained frustratingly elusive.

After days without any communication, she'd assumed that the rest of her family had been lost in the disaster. But then a friend contacted her to say there was a video on YouTube of a newscast showing her family home still standing, with her older sister waving a sign from the balcony. Though the 45-second clip proved difficult to track down, Kosaka finally found it after several hours searching. And there was her older sister, drawing the attention of news camera crew and waving a sign that read "we're all safe." Kosaka is now trying to send word to her family that she's seen the video. The ordeal is not over yet for her Kosaka or her family, but she's just happy to hear that they're alive. "It's a miracle," she told CNN, "It makes me very happy."

SwitchedJapanese UC Student Finds Family Safe and Sound on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akiko kosakaAkikoKosakajapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquakeJapanTsunamitoptsunamiwebyoutubeThu, 17 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Kanye's 'All of the Lights' Video Can Trigger Seizures, Epilepsy Group Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/25/kanyes-all-of-the-lights-video-can-trigger-seizures-epilepsy/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/25/kanyes-all-of-the-lights-video-can-trigger-seizures-epilepsy/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/25/kanyes-all-of-the-lights-video-can-trigger-seizures-epilepsy/#comments
Kanye West's new video for 'All of the Lights' features, well, a lot of lights -- so many, in fact, that it could cause some people to have seizures. Epilepsy Action, a U.K.-based awareness organization, has reportedly urged YouTube to pull the video, claiming that the strobe light-intensive clip had already elicited seizures in viewers with certain epileptic conditions. YouTube duly removed the video, before re-posting it with the following disclaimer: "WARNING: This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised." Watch with caution.

SwitchedKanye's 'All of the Lights' Video Can Trigger Seizures, Epilepsy Group Says originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AllOfTheLightscelebritiesepilepsykanye+all+of+the+lightskanyeallofthelightsKanyeWestmusicMusicVideoseizuretopvideowarningWebyoutubeFri, 25 Feb 2011 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Discusses Broadcasting Live NBA, NHL Games on YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/google-may-broadcast-nba-nhl-games-live-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/google-may-broadcast-nba-nhl-games-live-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/google-may-broadcast-nba-nhl-games-live-youtube/#comments Last year, when YouTube broadcast an Indian Premier League Cricket tournament, rumors began to circulate about Google's plans to show more live sporting events on the video site. Now Google, the NBA and the NHL are discussing a plan to broadcast entire live games on YouTube -- possibly as soon as this fall or winter, according to Bloomberg News. Clearly, Google wants to broadcast live sports on YouTube because advertisers are more likely to spend money if viewers are spending more time on the site. "It's fair to say that there will be a lot more appealing sports content you'll see on YouTube," Gautam Anand, Google's director of content partnerships for Asia Pacific, recently told reporters. Anand wouldn't reveal any specific details about the company's talks with the NBA, NHL or any other pro sports leagues. But Brian Suh, YouTube's partnership head at Google in Korea, confirmed the talks by saying the company was in negotiations with "most pro sports leagues," which we'd think would mean some European soccer leagues, too. (Sorry, NFL fans, but don't expect the league to share any of its broadcasting rights)

SwitchedGoogle Discusses Broadcasting Live NBA, NHL Games on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlemediaNBAnhlsportsstreamingtopvideowebyoutubeWed, 23 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vladimir Putin Not Laughing at YouTube Video Mocking Russia's Corruption]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/vladimir-putin-not-laughing-youtube-corruption-videos/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/vladimir-putin-not-laughing-youtube-corruption-videos/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/vladimir-putin-not-laughing-youtube-corruption-videos/#comments
Vladimir Putin is none too pleased with a YouTube video celebrating the glamorous lifestyles of Russia's government employees.

As Reuters reports, the faux rap video was created by a group of customs officers and features many of the luxuries you'd expect most oligarchs to enjoy: champagne, expensive cars, and topless women. "You can't even imagine how the customs officials have fun," the workers sing, as they cruise around in Hummers with the obligatory entourage of exotic dancers.

SwitchedVladimir Putin Not Laughing at YouTube Video Mocking Russia's Corruption originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>briberycorruptioncustomsgovernmentluxuryparodypoliticsraprussiatopVladimirPutinWebyoutubeThu, 17 Feb 2011 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[The Flaming Lips Release New Song, Divided Into 12 YouTube Videos]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/flaming-lips-release-song-12-youtube-clips/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/flaming-lips-release-song-12-youtube-clips/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/flaming-lips-release-song-12-youtube-clips/#comments
It's been more than a decade since the Flaming Lips released 'Zaireeka' -- an album consisting of four CDs meant to be played simultaneously. Now, Wayne Coyne & Co. have applied essentially the same concept to YouTube.

Yesterday, the band released "Two Blobs Fucking," a song that's divided into 12 separate YouTube clips meant to be played at the same time. Sounds like a pretty cumbersome way to hear music, but the Lips claim that their technique only enhances the listening experience. "The more devices, the more harmonic possibilities can be constructed," the group explained, in a press release. "You and your device, at one with the music, become the orchestra, just as the Gods of Technology naturally intended it to be."

To become one with the Flaming Lips' new track, get 11 of your friends (and their devices) in the same room, head over to the band's YouTube channel, and press play.

SwitchedThe Flaming Lips Release New Song, Divided Into 12 YouTube Videos originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flaming lipsFlamingLipsmusicnew songNewSongsongstopvideoWayneCoyneWebyoutubeTue, 15 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[See New York Fashion Week Shows Stream Live, Thanks To YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/10/youtube-streams-new-york-fashion-week-live/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/10/youtube-streams-new-york-fashion-week-live/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/10/youtube-streams-new-york-fashion-week-live/#commentsfashion week streaming In a partnership that makes so much sense it is almost shocking that it didn't happen earlier, YouTube is going to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The video site is streaming shows direct from Lincoln Center, letting the rest of the world witness what select New York Elite fight, starve and release hound-like interns to see. Partnering with Maybelline, and with backstage editorial help from YouTube accounts of FashionTV, Nylon and Vogue, the site is live-streaming shows from everyone from Tommy Hilfiger to Vivienne Tam to Christian Siriano. Check out youtube.com/liverunway, where you can tune into shows and check out the schedule for the upcoming week, starting today.

SwitchedSee New York Fashion Week Shows Stream Live, Thanks To YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fashionlive streamlive streaminglive streaming fashion showsLiveStreamLiveStreamingLiveStreamingFashionShowsnew york fashion weeknew york fashion week fall 2011NewYorkFashionWeekNewYorkFashionWeekFall2011topwebyoutubeThu, 10 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Most Blacklisted Site in 2010, OpenDNS Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/01/facebook-most-blacklisted-site-in-2010-opendns-says/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/01/facebook-most-blacklisted-site-in-2010-opendns-says/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/01/facebook-most-blacklisted-site-in-2010-opendns-says/#commentsWeb security firm OpenDNS has just released its annual list of the most blacklisted sites across homes, businesses and schools. And, perhaps not surprisingly, Facebook came out on top.

OpenDNS' 2010 report on 'Web Content Filtering and Phishing' (PDF) shows that a full 14.2-percent of networks using the company's services have blacklisted Facebook, 9.9-percent blocked access to MySpace, and 8.1-percent flagged YouTube. According to the firm, consumers or companies normally use blacklists when they don't want to filter an entire category of sites, but only want to cherry-pick those within a specific area. That would explain why the top few spots doesn't go to porn sites, because 85-percent of networks already blocked 'pornography' as a general category -- the highest percentage of any genre.

Continue reading Facebook Most Blacklisted Site in 2010, OpenDNS Says

SwitchedFacebook Most Blacklisted Site in 2010, OpenDNS Says originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blacklistemployersfacebookmyspacenetworkopendnsreportsecuritySocialNetworkingstatisticstopWebwebsiteyoutubeTue, 01 Feb 2011 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch the Crowdsourced Film 'Life in a Day' Tonight on YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/27/life-in-a-day-youtube-by-ridley-scott-kevin-macdonald/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/27/life-in-a-day-youtube-by-ridley-scott-kevin-macdonald/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/27/life-in-a-day-youtube-by-ridley-scott-kevin-macdonald/#commentsLife in a Day By now, you've probably heard about the Ridley Scott and Kevin Macdonald project 'Life in a Day,' a film culled entirely from videos submitted to YouTube. (The project knits together videos that document how approximately 1,125 people spent July 24th, 2010.) The footage was culled from over 80,000 submissions, and whittled down to a feature-length film, which will be making its debut later today at the Sundance Film Festival. Those who can't get into Sundance can watch the film as a live-stream on YouTube at 8 p.m. EST tonight, or when it's rebroadcast tomorrow night. After that, though, you'll have to wait for 'Life in a Day' to be released in theaters on July 24th, 2011 -- exactly one year to the day after the source footage was captured. Check out a preview of the film after the break.

Continue reading Watch the Crowdsourced Film 'Life in a Day' Tonight on YouTube

SwitchedWatch the Crowdsourced Film 'Life in a Day' Tonight on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>KevinMacdonaldLifeInADaymoviesRidleyScottsundanceSundanceFilmFestivaltopwebyoutubeThu, 27 Jan 2011 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama to Take Questions on YouTube, Twitter, After State of the Union]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/24/obama-takes-questions-youtube-askobama-state-of-the-union/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/24/obama-takes-questions-youtube-askobama-state-of-the-union/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/24/obama-takes-questions-youtube-askobama-state-of-the-union/#commentsThis Thursday, President Obama will field questions submitted from the world of social media during a live-streamed YouTube interview. Any inquisitive Web surfer can send their questions to the President at youtube.com/askobama, or via Twitter, by using the #askobama hashtag. Obama will answer the top-rated questions when the interview kicks off at 2:30 p.m. EST, just two days after his State of the Union speech (which, incidentally, will also be live-streamed on YouTube).

If you're interested in picking the POTUS's brain, you'll have to send in your question by midnight, January 25th, and you'll have to be concise. The White House says each question "should be about 20 seconds long," so start truncating your list of earthly concerns.

SwitchedObama to Take Questions on YouTube, Twitter, After State of the Union originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BarackObamaLiveStreamobamapoliticsquestion-and-answerSocialNetworkingStateOfTheUniontoptwitterWhiteHouseyoutubeMon, 24 Jan 2011 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[HP and UCB Team Up for Live Improv Show]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/18/hp-and-ucb-team-up-for-live-improv-show/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/18/hp-and-ucb-team-up-for-live-improv-show/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/18/hp-and-ucb-team-up-for-live-improv-show/#commentsHP e-Print Live On January 21st, HP will debut an improv comedy miniseries on YouTube and Facebook. For two hours, actors at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater will perform short skits based on viewer suggestions, beginning at 3 p.m. EST. Shortly after the livestream, individual skits will be posted on YouTube to share. As an added bonus, the show (called 'HP ePrint Live') will be hosted by the hilarious and intimidating Rob Riggle.

SwitchedHP and UCB Team Up for Live Improv Show originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesHPHpE-printLiveLOLZRobRiggletopUprightCitizensBrigadeyoutubeTue, 18 Jan 2011 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Cookie Monster Teaches the Scientific Method in Interactive YouTube Vid]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/13/cookie-monster-teaches-the-scientific-method-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/13/cookie-monster-teaches-the-scientific-method-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/13/cookie-monster-teaches-the-scientific-method-youtube/#commentsCookie Monster Teaches Science You can always count on 'Sesame Street' to teach our kids valuable lessons via TV, but now Cookie Monster has taken to YouTube to extend its educational reach. The show's first interactive YouTube vid teaches kids the basics of the scientific method, and asks them to guess whether objects will sink or float. It's not rocket science, but, remember, it's only 'Sesame Street.'

Continue reading Cookie Monster Teaches the Scientific Method in Interactive YouTube Vid

SwitchedCookie Monster Teaches the Scientific Method in Interactive YouTube Vid originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CookieMonstereducationalkidsscienceSesameStreettopyoutubeThu, 13 Jan 2011 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Famed Directors Reveal First Glimpse of Crowd-Sourced 'Life in a Day']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/07/ridley-scott-kevin-macdonald-life-in-a-day-video/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/07/ridley-scott-kevin-macdonald-life-in-a-day-video/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/07/ridley-scott-kevin-macdonald-life-in-a-day-video/#comments Last July, renowned directors Ridley Scott and Kevin Macdonald implored the public to submit personal videos for a YouTube crowd-sourcing project titled, 'Life in a Day.' According to The Next Web, 1,125 submissions -- which were all captured on July 24th of 2010 -- eventually made the final cut. The finished product will reportedly debut January 27th at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, but the first official, individual installment has already appeared.

If the brief, yet stirring, clip serves as an adequate indicator, the complete film should definitely entertain and engross. And, while it may not necessarily appeal to Scott's die-hard sci-fi fans, 'Life in a Day' should certainly provide "an honest and inspiring glimpse into our world." (Not to mention "realistic" -- just ask NASA.) For those hoping to follow the film's development, the 'Life in a Day' YouTube channel plans to incrementally release more clips in the days preceding Sundance.

Continue reading Famed Directors Reveal First Glimpse of Crowd-Sourced 'Life in a Day'

SwitchedFamed Directors Reveal First Glimpse of Crowd-Sourced 'Life in a Day' originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdsourcingfilmKevinMacdonaldLifeInADaymediamoviesridley scottRidleyScottsundancetopFri, 07 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Velvety Voiced Homeless Man Lands Viral Fame]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/05/homeless-ted-williams-golden-radio-voice-viral/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/05/homeless-ted-williams-golden-radio-voice-viral/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/05/homeless-ted-williams-golden-radio-voice-viral/#comments The memories of 2010's viral stars still remain fresh and frustratingly ingrained, but a 'Net newcomer named Ted Williams has arrived to help expunge any thoughts of ephemeral heroes like Antoine Dodson, Sad Keanu and the Old Spice Guy. Discovered on the side of the road by a Columbus Dispatch reporter, the homeless and gifted Williams has instantly attained iconic status.

A video detailing his story of recovery and redemption -- and demonstrating his impeccable, almost predestined radio voice -- has garnered over 5 million views in two days. (Check it out after the break.) Williams now reportedly faces an inundation of real and lucrative business propositions, including a $10,000 ad contract, a telethon appearance and even rumors of a potential deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The immediate star now reportedly has an agent, Al Battle, and could transition his love for radio into a full-time gig.

So, farewell, Basil and Rainbow Guy. While your glory may be fleeting, Williams looks like one viral star who may actually extend his 15 minutes of Web fame.

Continue reading Velvety Voiced Homeless Man Lands Viral Fame

SwitchedVelvety Voiced Homeless Man Lands Viral Fame originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homelessmemesradioTedWilliamsTedWilliamsRadioTedWilliamsVoicetopviralViralVideosyoutubeWed, 05 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Family and Friends Turn to Social Media to Find Missing Person]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/13/joe-sjoberg-facebook-missing-person/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/13/joe-sjoberg-facebook-missing-person/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/13/joe-sjoberg-facebook-missing-person/#commentsHelp Us Find Joe Sjoberg Joe Sjoberg disappeared on November 29. The 22-year-old Madison, Wisconsin resident was reported missing that day by friends and family but, as in all missing persons cases, the police had to wait to launch their investigation for several hours after Joe first went missing. Even once the authorities began looking for Joe it seemed their reach was limited. Not content to simply wait by the phone, Sjoberg's friends and family joined together to spread the word about his disappearance via Facebook, YouTube, Reddit and a quickly thrown together website. Where, in the past, his loved ones would have had to resort to posting fliers on telephone poles and been limited severely by their geography, now they can canvas the entire country via Twitter and other social media. And the response has been significant. An outpouring of support can be seen on Twitter and Facebook where links to information about Joe are being passed around.

Joe still hasn't turned up, but his family and friends are hopeful for a happy ending. If you'd like to help, please share links to the Facebook group, Help Us Find Joe Sjoberg, and to this flier with information about Joe. If you have any information that can help, call Crime Stoppers at (608) 266-6014.

SwitchedFamily and Friends Turn to Social Media to Find Missing Person originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebooksocial networkingSocialNetworkingtoptwitterwebMon, 13 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Extends Video Time Limits for Obedient Users]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/10/youtube-extends-video-time-limits-for-obedient-users/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/10/youtube-extends-video-time-limits-for-obedient-users/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/10/youtube-extends-video-time-limits-for-obedient-users/#commentsLess than five months after extending video time limits to 15 minutes, YouTube has decided to lengthen them again. YouTube product manager Joshua Siegel wrote in a blog post that the streaming giant chose to drop its time limit thanks to "advances in Content ID," the system that scans every video uploaded to YouTube, and compares its data with data provided by copyright holders. As of right now, the expanded time limit is only available to users "who have a history of complying with the YouTube Community Guidelines."

The move will allow YouTube to start hosting things like concert bootlegs and college lectures, content that had once been confined to competitors. The people at Wolfgang's Vault are probably pretty pissed, but community theater, regional athletic departments and education activists must be thrilled.

Continue reading YouTube Extends Video Time Limits for Obedient Users

SwitchedYouTube Extends Video Time Limits for Obedient Users originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightstreamingvideoTimeLimittopvideoYouTubeFri, 10 Dec 2010 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Now Allows Viewers to Skip Commercials]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/02/youtube-lets-you-skip-ads-commercials/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/02/youtube-lets-you-skip-ads-commercials/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/02/youtube-lets-you-skip-ads-commercials/#commentsSkip Commercials in YouTube Google is now allowing viewers to skip the commercials that play before YouTube videos. The new ad system, dubbed TrueView, has been in testing for some time, but the format saw a wider roll-out today. When a TrueView ad begins playing, you'll see a counter at the top of the video window. After five seconds, you'll be able to skip the rest of the ad if you so choose.

Surprisingly, advertisers seem okay with the new system, partially because they're only charged for advertisements if viewers don't click the skip button. That could potentially save the companies money, but it also means (presumably) that viewers who actually sit through the commercials are more interested in whatever services or products are being offered. Most importantly, though, it means less obnoxious, unwanted advertising for the viewer.

SwitchedYouTube Now Allows Viewers to Skip Commercials originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisinggoogletopwebyoutubeThu, 02 Dec 2010 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Vigilantes Shine a Spotlight on Nasty Neighbors]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/11/05/youtube-vigilantes-shine-a-spotlight-on-nasty-neighbors/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/05/youtube-vigilantes-shine-a-spotlight-on-nasty-neighbors/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/05/youtube-vigilantes-shine-a-spotlight-on-nasty-neighbors/#commentsYouTube users have repeatedly helped merchants, homeowners and police to nab evildoers. Plummeting tech prices are apparently now inspiring a new wave of YouTube citizen sleuths, and these vigilant observers are shifting their sights from burglars, animal abusers and Halloween hoodlums to perhaps the most despicable and annoying cretins on the planet -- belligerent neighbors.

The New York Times recounts the rise of these Little Big Brothers and their unceasing fight against neighborhood peepers, intruders, vandals and dog doo slingers. That fight doesn't just involve watching and finding a culprit, though, because this global YouTube Neighborhood Watch is all about abject humiliation. One victim uploaded a wacky, narrated musical video of his poo-hurling neighbor, and another created a variety of slapstick tributes to his next-door snoops.

Continue reading YouTube Vigilantes Shine a Spotlight on Nasty Neighbors

SwitchedYouTube Vigilantes Shine a Spotlight on Nasty Neighbors originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BigBrothercrimelawpoliceprivacytopvandalismyoutubeFri, 05 Nov 2010 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Removes Videos From Radical Islamic Cleric al-Awlaki]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/11/04/youtube-removes-cleric-al-awlaki-videos/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/04/youtube-removes-cleric-al-awlaki-videos/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/04/youtube-removes-cleric-al-awlaki-videos/#commentsYesterday, YouTube suddenly purged its site of hundreds of videos featuring Anwar al-Awlaki, a high-profile Islamic cleric who used the video-sharing platform to issue calls for jihadist violence against the U.S. The American-born al-Awlaki is currently based in Yemen, and has been tied to Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, Christmas Day bomber Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab and Faisal Shazad (the man behind the attempted Times Square bombing).

Political figures from both the U.S. and Great Britain had been pressuring YouTube to remove the videos, and began doing so with even greater urgency after authorities uncovered and thwarted a mail-bomb attack on Friday. "Hundreds of al-Awlaki videos are currently available on YouTube, with a combined total of over 3.5 million views," reads an open letter to YouTube, from New York Rep. Anthony Weiner. "In these videos, al-Awlaki preaches violence against Americans, and actions back up his online message." During a speech last week in Washington, D.C., British security minister Baroness Neville-Jones urged President Obama to "take down this hateful material" from U.S.-based servers. The videos, Neville-Jones argued, "incite cold-blooded murder," and would "categorically not be allowed in the U.K."

Continue reading YouTube Removes Videos From Radical Islamic Cleric al-Awlaki

SwitchedYouTube Removes Videos From Radical Islamic Cleric al-Awlaki originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlQaedaAnwarAl-awlakicensorshipextremistsFreedomOfSpeechgoogleislamjihadpoliticsterrorismtopvideoyoutubeThu, 04 Nov 2010 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Bon Jovi Gives YouTube a Bad Name]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/11/04/bon-jovi-youtube-live-concert/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/04/bon-jovi-youtube-live-concert/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/04/bon-jovi-youtube-live-concert/#commentsBon Jovi has already released at least three compilation albums and one box set, but the band apparently believes its extensive catalog warrants yet another 'Greatest Hits' album. That assortment of regurgitated cheese drops November 9th, and, to build a little hype, the band is scheduled to perform Wednesday, November 10th at New York's Best Buy Theater -- from which YouTube will be live-streaming the entire event. During the performance, YouTube will allow viewers "to submit comments and videos expressing what they love about their favorite Bon Jovi songs." Burp.

So, YouTube streams U2 and Arcade Fire shows (and the State of the Union Address), and now it taps Bon Jovi? Hmm. Jon Bon did publicly issue an appeal for song requests, so the public purportedly gets to choose the set list. Wait, the public actually gets to choose the set list? This sounds like a job for 4chan.

SwitchedBon Jovi Gives YouTube a Bad Name originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BonJoviLiveStreammusictopYoutubeLiveThu, 04 Nov 2010 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Find a Security Hole in Google, Make Some Extra Cash]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/11/03/google-offers-cash-security-hole-gmail-youtube-docs/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/03/google-offers-cash-security-hole-gmail-youtube-docs/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/03/google-offers-cash-security-hole-gmail-youtube-docs/#commentsAmateur Web wizards will soon be able to make a little extra cash on Google, thanks to a new security rewards program that the company unveiled.

The new program is essentially a duplicate of Google Chrome's vulnerability reward service, which offers cash compensation to anyone who discovers security holes on the Web browser. Now, vulnerability hunters can troll for weaknesses on more Google properties, including YouTube, Orkut, Blogger, Google Docs and Gmail. Monetary compensation, of course, will be determined by the severity of the exposed vulnerability with base rewards starting at $500 and topping out at $3,133.70.

Continue reading Find a Security Hole in Google, Make Some Extra Cash

SwitchedFind a Security Hole in Google, Make Some Extra Cash originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggerbugsGmailgooglegoogle chromegoogle docsgoogle vulnerabilityGoogleChromeGoogleDocsGoogleVulnerabilitymoneyorkutrewardssecuritytopvulnerabilityyoutubeWed, 03 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lady Gaga Reaches 1 Billion YouTube Views, But Bieber Lurks]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/25/lady-gaga-youtube-record-1-billion-youtube-views-bieber/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/25/lady-gaga-youtube-record-1-billion-youtube-views-bieber/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/25/lady-gaga-youtube-record-1-billion-youtube-views-bieber/#commentslady gaga tweet
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Lady Gaga is popular. She officially laid claim to the Twitter throne, she smashed Obama for Facebook fans, and now she's conquered YouTube (again).

In a tweet posted yesterday morning, Gaga proudly announced that her collection of YouTube videos had crossed the one billion view threshold, making her the first artist to hit decuple digits on the video sharing site. "We reached 1 Billion views on youtube little monsters!," the tweet reads. "If we stick together we can do anything. I dub u kings and queens of youtube! Unite!"

Continue reading Lady Gaga Reaches 1 Billion YouTube Views, But Bieber Lurks

SwitchedLady Gaga Reaches 1 Billion YouTube Views, But Bieber Lurks originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesJustinBieberLady GagaLadyGagamusicmusic videoMusicVideopage viewsPageViewspoptopvideoviewyoutubeMon, 25 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More Governors Use YouTube, But Few Manage to Get Our Attention]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/23/more-governors-use-youtube-but-few-manage-to-get-our-attention/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/23/more-governors-use-youtube-but-few-manage-to-get-our-attention/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/23/more-governors-use-youtube-but-few-manage-to-get-our-attention/#commentsjan brewer's youtube channel When they're not busy making our world a better place, most state politicians spend their time reaching out to the voters who elected them, and promoting their agendas to the public. Instead of stumping at school gymnasiums or shooting TV commercials, though, many state governors have begun flocking to YouTube -- albeit with mixed results.

According to USA Today, at least 38 governors currently have their own videos posted on YouTube, including nine who just began posting videos on the site this year. Nine other governors, meanwhile, have posted videos on other public platforms or government websites. As you'd expect, some use YouTube to spread campaign ads, while others, like Rick Perry of Texas, simply post videos of recent speeches, statements or interviews. And, unlike virtually everything else on Capitol Hill, the viral video seems to be something both Republicans and Democrats can support. Of the 38 governors who have gone viral, 17 are Republicans, 20 are Democrats, and one (Florida's Charlie Crist) is an independent.

Continue reading More Governors Use YouTube, But Few Manage to Get Our Attention

SwitchedMore Governors Use YouTube, But Few Manage to Get Our Attention originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>campaignCharlie CristCharlieCristDemocratsgovernorindependentjan brewerJanBrewerpoliticianspoliticsrepublicansrick perryRickPerrytopvideoyoutubeSat, 23 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Last Night at The Guggenheim: YouTube Play Opens to Fanfare, Yet Flops]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/22/guggenheim-youtube-play-opens-and-flops/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/22/guggenheim-youtube-play-opens-and-flops/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/22/guggenheim-youtube-play-opens-and-flops/#commentsthe guggenheim How do we rate YouTube Play? We've been struggling to answer that question since last night, when we attended the opening at the Guggenheim and got our first look at the 25 videos chosen for the exhibition. Culled from over 23,000 submissions worldwide and narrowed to a shortlist of 125, the final 25 were picked by a rock-star jury of artists, designers and filmmakers. To say it bluntly, the show didn't meet our expectations -- which is a shame, since our expectations weren't very high.

What had promised to be a first-of-its-kind survey of the amateur video art on YouTube became a spectacle of celebrity and corporate sponsorship, eclipsing an uneven collection of works. We must say that we left the museum unimpressed -- saddest, of course, for the filmmakers who worked exceptionally hard on their videos.

Continue reading Last Night at The Guggenheim: YouTube Play Opens to Fanfare, Yet Flops

SwitchedLast Night at The Guggenheim: YouTube Play Opens to Fanfare, Yet Flops originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesexhibitionfeaturesguggenheimlaurie andersonLaurieAndersonMarilyn MinterMarilynMintermichael showalterMichaelShowalterok goOkGoreviewstefan sagmeisterStefanSagmeistertopvideo artVideoArtyoutubeyoutube playYoutubePlayFri, 22 Oct 2010 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Commenter Sued For Ribbing 'Officer Bubbles' Reveals Identity]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/21/youtube-commenter-sued-for-ribbing-officer-bubbles-reveals-ide/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/21/youtube-commenter-sued-for-ribbing-officer-bubbles-reveals-ide/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/21/youtube-commenter-sued-for-ribbing-officer-bubbles-reveals-ide/#commentsYou may have seen this clip of Toronto Police Const. Adam Josephs threatening G20 protester Courtney Winkels for blowing bubbles at a rally in June. The young woman puts her bubbles away after Josephs forcefully tells her, "If the bubble touches me, you're going to be arrested for assault." (She was, nevertheless, arrested shortly later.) The video hit YouTube back in July, and Josephs immediately became the target of commenters, who dubbed him "Officer Bubbles" in a series of parody cartoons that have since been removed from the site. Having gained no sense of levity from the protest itself, Josephs is now suing Google to reveal the names of 24 people who mocked him online.

One of those anonymous commenters, who goes by the handle "Pussymcfats" on YouTube, has revealed his identity to the Star after finding a $1.2 million suit in his email. Todd Mara, a 33-year-old married Ontario native and father of two, tells The Star that he hasn't used his YouTube account in months and had forgotten about his comment. He was thrown by the allegation in Josephs' statement that the comments are "false and devastatingly defamatory," and the officer's lawyer, James Zibarras, claiming that they encouraged an "aggressive backlash that was turning into violent threats." What was the substance of Mara's "threatening" comment? "Officer bubbles probably looks at himself in the mirror a lot."

Continue reading YouTube Commenter Sued For Ribbing 'Officer Bubbles' Reveals Identity

SwitchedYouTube Commenter Sued For Ribbing 'Officer Bubbles' Reveals Identity originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam josephsAdamJosephsgooglelawsuitofficer bubblesOfficerBubblesprotesttodd maraToddMaratoptorontowebyoutubeThu, 21 Oct 2010 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[8 Minutes of Bizarre VCR Obsession]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/18/8-minutes-of-bizarre-vcr-obsession/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/18/8-minutes-of-bizarre-vcr-obsession/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/18/8-minutes-of-bizarre-vcr-obsession/#commentsmarkorepairs This Finn loves green screens, bowl cuts, 'Tubular Bells' and the 'Terminator' theme. He also really, really loves VCRs. We don't know why! He may be some kind of repairman, but that only half-explains the VHS fetish. If you've got eight minutes to zone out, watch his paean to the videocassette recorder below. (He's also a YouTube uploading champ, having posted 988 videos since May 2008.) Weird.

Continue reading 8 Minutes of Bizarre VCR Obsession

Switched8 Minutes of Bizarre VCR Obsession originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>markorepairstopVCRVHSvintageweirdyoutubeMon, 18 Oct 2010 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Must Reveal Cyberbully's Identity, New York Judge Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/18/carla-franklin-google-must-reveal-cyberbullys-identity/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/18/carla-franklin-google-must-reveal-cyberbullys-identity/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/18/carla-franklin-google-must-reveal-cyberbullys-identity/#commentsA few months ago, former actress, model and Columbia graduate Carla Franklin took legal action against a mysterious cyberbully who posted defamatory comments about her on YouTube. At the time, Franklin said she had a pretty good idea of who the crude commenter might be, but her lawyers decided to file a court petition for Google to formally reveal his identity. The petition, which was initially filed in August, has now been confirmed by a Manhattan judge, meaning that Google must unmask the cyberbully within the next 15 days.

In the court filing, Franklin's lawyer, David Fish, asserted that the posted comments "were made with the intention to harm Ms. Franklin's reputation and interfere with her relationships, employment and livelihood." Franklin, who graduated last year with an MBA from Columbia Business School, is now working as a business consultant. While at Columbia, she filmed a series of short clips for the university, in which she offered guidance and advice to other students. One such video was subsequently uploaded to YouTube, where a rogue user posted inexplicably obscene comments -- including one that called Franklin a "whore."

Continue reading Google Must Reveal Cyberbully's Identity, New York Judge Says

SwitchedGoogle Must Reveal Cyberbully's Identity, New York Judge Says originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carla franklinCarlaFranklincolumbiacommentdefamationgoogleidentityjudgeslawlawsuitnew yorkNewYorktopvideowebwhoresyoutubeMon, 18 Oct 2010 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Google TV Inches Closer to Reality With HBO, Twitter, Netflix Partnerships]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/05/google-tv-inches-closer-to-reality-with-hbo-twitter-netflix-pa/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/05/google-tv-inches-closer-to-reality-with-hbo-twitter-netflix-pa/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/05/google-tv-inches-closer-to-reality-with-hbo-twitter-netflix-pa/#commentsGoogle TV Today Google TV got its own website to call home. While largely an exercise in marketing hype, the new site offers the first serious glimpse of Google TV apps in action. You'll be able to get your social network on, thanks to an official Twitter app, but more exciting are the apps offered by content partners that blur the line between Web and television. The 'NBA Game Time' app, for instance, adds live scores, highlights, standings and stats to your in-game experience. 'CNBC Real-Time' adds similar features to the financial news sector, allowing users to track stocks and news feeds while watching a live stream from the station. In preparation for the Google TV launch, TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network and HBO have also worked to optimize their websites for viewing in the living room. Amazon and Netflix are also on board, as are The New York Times, USA Today, VEVO, Pandora, Napster, Blip.tv and (of course) YouTube.

More apps will likely be debuting over the next several weeks as the first set of Google TV devices start making their way into consumers' hands. But it's not a bad lineup of launch partners. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Google TV Inches Closer to Reality With HBO, Twitter, Netflix Partnerships

SwitchedGoogle TV Inches Closer to Reality With HBO, Twitter, Netflix Partnerships originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonandroidappscartoon networkCartoonNetworkcnngooglegoogle tvGoogleTvhbointernetnapsternbanbcnetflixnew york timesNewYorkTimespandoratbstnttopusa todayUsaTodayvevowebyoutubeTue, 05 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rahm Emanuel Announces Chicago Mayoral Campaign on YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/04/rahm-emanuel-announces-chicago-mayoral-campaign-on-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/04/rahm-emanuel-announces-chicago-mayoral-campaign-on-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/04/rahm-emanuel-announces-chicago-mayoral-campaign-on-youtube/#commentsRahm Emanuel To announce his campaign for Chicago mayor, former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel took a page from his former boss's digital campaign playbook, and went directly to YouTube.

In a video posted to his campaign website, Emanuel casually announced his candidacy from behind a desk, and divulged a few more details about his upcoming 'Tell It Like It Is' campaign tour. "As I prepare to run for mayor, I'm going to spend the next few weeks visiting our neighborhoods - at grocery stores, L stops, bowling alleys, and hot dog stands," the outspoken politician says. In choosing to announce his campaign on the website, Rahm may very well be targeting the younger, more connected members of his constituency -- as if dropping awkward f-bombs didn't rally us enough.

Continue reading Rahm Emanuel Announces Chicago Mayoral Campaign on YouTube

SwitchedRahm Emanuel Announces Chicago Mayoral Campaign on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementcampaignchicagomayorobamapoliticsrahm emanuelRahmEmanuelsocialnetworkingtopvideoyoutubeMon, 04 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shortlist Announced for YouTube Play, the Video Art Search With the Guggenheim]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/09/20/shortlist-announced-for-youtube-play-the-video-art-search-with/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/20/shortlist-announced-for-youtube-play-the-video-art-search-with/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/20/shortlist-announced-for-youtube-play-the-video-art-search-with/#commentssubmission to youtube play The shortlist for YouTube Play, the joint venture by the Guggenheim and YouTube to create a "biennial" of amateur video art, has been announced. We're not sure, though, what criteria the museum used to pick the 125 videos from the over 23,000 submitted, or how the distinguished panel of judges will narrow those 125 down to the 20 designated for exhibition at the Guggenheim's various outposts.

Novelty and obscurity were obviously not deciding factors, as both OK Go's 'This Too Shall Pass' and Rymdreglage's viral '8-Bit Trip' from last year seem to have made the shortlist. (It's not as though we were expecting this project to discover the next Kenneth Anger or Maya Deren, but we were a little surprised to see the kings of indie rock listed among the unknowns.) Check out a hyped-up video about the shortlist after the break, or see all of the shortlisted entries here.

Continue reading Shortlist Announced for YouTube Play, the Video Art Search With the Guggenheim

SwitchedShortlist Announced for YouTube Play, the Video Art Search With the Guggenheim originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-bitTripguggenheimGuggenheimMuseumOkGorymdeglageThisTooShallPassVideoArtyoutubeYoutubePlayMon, 20 Sep 2010 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Launches Live Streaming Platform Trial]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/09/13/youtube-launches-live-streaming-platform-trial/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/13/youtube-launches-live-streaming-platform-trial/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/13/youtube-launches-live-streaming-platform-trial/#commentsYouTube Live Streaming Platform Having already dipped its toes in the live-stream pool earlier this year, YouTube is now testing a broader live-streaming platform, set to go live this morning. The trial, underway at 11 a.m. EST, will involve content streamed from four of YouTube's partners: Howcast, Next New Networks, Rocketboom and Young Hollywood. (Click here for a full programming schedule.) Youtube explains that users will need only a webcam or external USB/FireWire camera to begin streaming content on YouTube channels, while a 'Live Comments' module will allow visitors to "engage with the broadcaster and the broader YouTube community." The trial period will end tomorrow, but could eventually expand to include more partners, pending positive results from the platform's test run. Once YouTube flicks the streaming switch, check out the embedded player after the break.

Continue reading YouTube Launches Live Streaming Platform Trial

SwitchedYouTube Launches Live Streaming Platform Trial originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlehowcastlivelive on youtubelive streamlive streaminglive streaming platformlive streaming videoLiveOnYoutubeLiveStreamLiveStreamingLiveStreamingPlatformLiveStreamingVideonext new networksNextNewNetworksrocketboomvideoyoung hollywoodYoungHollywoodyoutubeyoutube videosyoutube.comYoutubeVideosMon, 13 Sep 2010 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Stars and Hasbro Team Up With 'Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/09/09/youtube-stars-and-hasbro-team-up-with-trivial-pursuit-bet-you/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/09/youtube-stars-and-hasbro-team-up-with-trivial-pursuit-bet-you/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/09/youtube-stars-and-hasbro-team-up-with-trivial-pursuit-bet-you/#comments'trivial pursuit: bet you know it' Among nerdier interests, your writer is very much a fan of Trivial Pursuit. (What other activity would demand the entirely pointless knowledge that Dr. Pepper debuted at the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition in 1904? Sadly, none.) Game-maker Hasbro has lately been working its way into the digital realm (notably with the buggy and entirely underwhelming iPhone version of Pursuit), and its most recent venture is a partnership with YouTube, which pits the knowledge of Internet users against the creators of classic video memes in a Web-based game called Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It.

Used as an advertising plug for the new version of the Pursuit board game, Bet You Know It asks users three questions, in series, as they try to rack up "chips" for the 'The People.' You then use those chips to bet against meme-makers like Tay Zonday and the Numa Numa guy, gaining points for The People if you correctly guess whether or not the particular Web-celebrity knows the answer to a question.

Continue reading YouTube Stars and Hasbro Team Up With 'Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It'

SwitchedYouTube Stars and Hasbro Team Up With 'Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameshasbroTimeWastertimewasterstoptriviatrivial pursuitTrivialPursuitwebyoutubeThu, 09 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST