videos
Latest
YouTube goes after child-exploiting channels and videos
There's been a growing trend of content on YouTube that pretends to be kid-friendly, but is anything but. There have also been reports of content creators with incredibly questionable content that some feel borders on child abuse, as reported by Buzzfeed. Google has been trying to manage this dual problem by targeting disturbing videos, but now it's planning to do even more (which makes a ton of sense given the accusations). According to a blog post, the company wants to toughen up it's approach to manage this issue with policies like applying community guidelines more quickly and strictly, removing ads from the disturbing videos, blocking inappropriate comments on videos featuring minors, giving creators of family-friendly content more guidance and continuing to listen to experts when content is too nuanced for a simple decision.
'Pokémon Go' developer buys social animation startup Evertoon
Game developer Niantic has become a well-known name since it released Pokémon Go to massive popularity last summer. Unfortunately, the game has recently seen a rather sharp decline in its active user community in the past year and a half. Perhaps that explains the company's recent acquisition of a relatively unknown startup, Evertoon, which makes an app for creating animations with customized avatars. "Today I am excited to announce that we have acquired the Evertoon team," wrote Niantic boss John Hanke, "who bring with them a wealth of talent and experience in mobile products, tools for creativity, and community building."
Food dominates Facebook video views, study shows
There's a lot of hand-wringing about ad revenue among news and entertainment websites, so many are switching from articles to video on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as a cure-all. However, a sobering study from Buzzsumo shows that "pivoting to video" may not attract more eyeballs -- unless you're doing food or fashion videos. After examining 100 million Facebook videos, the analytics firm determined that food is far and away the most popular type, with over double the interactions of the next-most-viewed category, fashion and beauty.
Apple demonstrates how the iPad Pro was made for iOS 11
Apple's iPad sales were surprisingly good last quarter, but a lot of critics (including us) thought there was still no way the iPad Pro could replace a proper PC. The release of iOS 11 next month will change some minds, however. A new series of Apple videos shows how to use the new features, including the Dock, Files app, multitasking, Apple Pencil and more. Suffice to say, it drastically improves productivity on the tablets, making it much easier to do multiple jobs concurrently.
Rub elbows with music’s C-list on Vevo’s Watch Party Live
Vevo launched Watch Party this past March as a way to watch music videos with your friends. You simply invite a bunch of buddies to a virtual room, built a playlist of videos from Vevo's catalogue , and everyone gets to watch at the same time. Now, Vevo's taking the concept even further with the addition of Watch Party Live, in which music stars create the playlist and interact with fans via a picture-in-picture video chat.
YouTube experimenting with GIF-like video previews
According to a post on its help forum, YouTube began to experiment with video previews on the desktop a couple of weeks ago, albeit in limited fashion. But now the company seems to be ready for a wider rollout, as some users have started seeing the feature on YouTube's latest dot-com interface. As pictured above, soon you might notice a 3-second teaser when your computer's pointer hovers over a thumbnail, though it only works for videos that are longer than 30 seconds.
Disturbing, fake YouTube shows fool kids for more clicks
We want our kids to use the internet, sure, but we want them to do it safely. No one wants young children to deal with inappropriate content, like fake Peppa Pig or Doc McStuffins videos. Unfortunately, it's increasingly difficult to police all of the various services and apps that our children use, including YouTube. A new study performed by researchers from the US, UK and Brazil analyzed YouTube videos from all three regions that had been viewed more than 37 billion times. They found that children are increasingly exposed to videos containing advertising and disturbing images that are indistinguishable from regular kids' programming. The study also found that children younger than the "allowed" ages around the globe are accessing YouTube, many through their parents' accounts.
Tumblr's Cabana app lets friends watch video along with you
Tumblr has released a new standalone app called Cabana, where you can hang out with your friends through video chat and force them to watch cute animal videos. It's far from a being a new concept: Google already did it with YouTube party mode for Hangouts and Uptime. A simple search for "watch videos together" will bring up a lengthy list of choices, as well -- there's even an in-app option for Apple's iMessage. Still, the company says the prototype was a hit among teens aged 13 to 18 during their tests. If you're partial to Tumblr and you're looking for a virtual party app anyway, Cabana might be worth a shot.
Google Photos will make your shaky videos watchable
Google's Photos app has long been compensating for wobbly Live Photos taken with an iPhone. Now it can do same for any video in your device. The tech titan has begun rolling out Photos' long-awaited video stabilizer, according to Android Police, which has already tested it out. To use it, simply click the pen icon while viewing a video within the app and tap the new feature's button right next to "Rotate."
Watch these declassified nuclear test films on YouTube
There's something both beautiful and unnerving about a mushroom cloud. The United States conducted around 216 atmospheric nuclear tests between 1945 and 1992, many taking place in Nevada and the Pacific Proving Grounds. Now, rare videos of those detonations are declassified and available to the public for the first time.
Facebook will reward longer videos that people actually watch
Facebook has changed the way it chooses videos to surface on your News Feed, and this new method favors longer clips. The social network explains in its latest blog post that "percent completion" or the percentage of each video you watch helps its algorithm understand what kind of content you enjoy. "If you watch most or all of a video, that tells us that you found the video to be compelling -- and we know that completing a longer video is a bigger commitment than completing a shorter one," the post reads.
LinkedIn debuts 'influencer' videos for interview tips and more
Video has become a big part of the business strategy for social networks, including Facebook and Twitter. Now, LinkedIn is following a similar path by letting certain people share original videos on its platform. The new tool will only be available to over 500 "influencers" on LinkedIn, someone like the CEO or co-founder of a company. By letting you see these 30-second videos on your feed, LinkedIn says it hopes users can engage on a conversation about topics they're interested in, such as getting advice on how to get hired for a job.
Facebook collects your best birthday wishes in new recap videos
Facebook is already the hub for online birthday wishes from people you haven't seen in person since the late 90s, but the site isn't done celebrating your special day once the clock strikes midnight. Facebook has rolled out Birthday Recap Videos, a 45-second collection of the top wall posts you received on your birthday, including photos and text comments, that appears in your News Feed the following day.
Vimeo makes it easy to find purchased videos on your phone
As great as Vimeo's On Demand video service is on platforms like Roku, the mobile experience needed some work. With that in mind, Vimeo has released an updated version of its iOS and Android apps, giving users easy access to videos they've subscribed to, bought or rented. The new "Purchases" library also lets you download content to view offline, for those times when you're not connected to WiFi.
The EU might force Netflix and Amazon to show more local titles
The European Union is rewriting its broadcasting rules, and according to Reuters, it could end up requiring streaming services operating in the region to change their practices. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and similar companies could be forced to ensure that EU-made shows and movies make up 20 percent of their catalogues in member countries. They'd also have to prominently feature those titles on their websites and apps. But that's not all: the commission wants to oblige them to make financial contributions towards the production of European shows, as well.
Create Facebook profile videos with Vine, Boomerang and more
Facebook flipped the switch on profile videos last fall, and now its allowing you to upload those short clips from third-party apps. The social network announced the Facebook Profile Expression Kit at F8, an SDK that will allow app developers to build in tools that allow users to set video creations as a moving profile image. There's already a handful of apps that support the profile videos during the initial beta phase, including MSQRD, Boomerang from Instagram and Vine. Once you make your video, you'll now have the option of setting it as your main Facebook profile visual with just a few taps.
Spotify video streaming rolls out to Android users
Video streaming has finally arrived to Spotify on Android devices, giving you more to do than just listen to audio. As earlier reports revealed, content is available from providers like NBC, Comedy Central and BBC, along with popular video podcasts. To access the new feature, go to "browse" and select "shows," or check the "video" option in your library. You can then find content providers and follow shows or playlist "bundles" of video, just like you would with audio playlists. The company said that it's aiming to suggest video content that's in line with music that you're already listening to.
Go behind the scenes of the State of the Union with Snapchat
The White House announced today that it had joined Snapchat ahead of tomorrow's State of the Union address, the last before President Obama leaves office. Snapchat is a social site where users' fleeting posts disappear after just a few seconds. It boasts over 100 million active users, most of which weren't even old enough to vote when he was elected -- that is, they're under 25. Users can follow the president's posts by adding WhiteHouse or scanning the snapcode below.
Snapchat videos get slow-motion, fast-forward and rewind filters
Snapchat's focus of late has been on showcasing mainstream content, while simultaneously continuing to enhance its core business: quick-and-dirty pictures and videos. To make those even more entertaining, the Snapchat apps for iOS and Android are now getting slow-motion, fast-forward and rewind filters, which the startup is calling Speed Modifiers. Once you record a clip, all you have to do is swipe to try each one of them out. In addition to that, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users are getting something a little extra, with the application now supporting Apple's 3D Touch feature. Force pressing your home screen's Snapchat icon will give you easy access to two options: Chat With and Add Friends, both self-explanatory. It'll be interesting to see how creative people's snaps get with the new filters.
YouTube is getting rid of '301+ Views'
When a video posted to YouTube starts to really rack up hits, the view counter has always frozen at "301+" for a while as the system checked for any robotic view count inflating shenanigans. It's become something of an institution at the site, acting as a flag for videos that were on the verge of going viral. But that's no longer the case. YouTube announced today that it is forgoing the 301+ freeze for a system that only counts views that they're "confident only come from real people." The new system is expected to provide more accurate and up-to-date numbers.
