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Shel Holtz
Communicating at the Intersection of Business and Technology
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Lee, isn’t this better?

Lee Hopkins’ first video blog has been on my list of things to view, but I just got around to it today after hearing Bryan Person say it inspired him to produce one of his own. So I toddled on over to Lee’s blog, only to find that I had to download the damn thing. Lee, mate, there’s a better way!

It took me about 15 minutes to produce this using the download, including converting Lee’s AVI file to FLV.

08/17/06 | 10 Comments | Lee, isn’t this better?

Comments
  • 1.Shel, perhaps you can give us some pointers re how you did this (NOT that I am going to start video blogging - NO!). Thanks for doing this. Until now, I could only hear Lee's video; I couldn't see his radio face, I mean, his face.

    donna papacosta | August 2006 | Toronto

  • 2.Shel --- how DID you do this??? Tell me more, tell me more...

    Lee Hopkins | August 2006 | Adelaide Hills

  • 3.Inquiring minds want to know, eh?

    Okay. The first requirement is to encode the video as a FLV file -- this is a Flash file designed for streaming. The one I use is "Video to Flash Converter" (clever name, huh?), which runs US $59.95. There are other choices out there.

    Once you've converted your source file to FLV, upload it to a Web server somewhere. Then go to http://www.click.tv. Register for an account. When you are registered, log in and fill in the simple fields. First, register a video by entering the URL where the FLV file is located. You can also selectd the dimensions of the video.

    Next, you can set some options. For instance, you can decide whether the video will play as soon as it's loaded or require someone to start it. You can also decide whether you'll share the video -- that is, make the web code available so others can play it on their sites -- and whether visitors can leave comments. Save your settings.

    Now you can copy the code and paste it into your blog and the video will appear. But wait. There's more.

    On the right side of the scree, you can watch the video. When you get to a spot where you want to create a comment, click "Add Comment," then type in your remarks. Those comments will show up wherever the video is posted.

    Click.TV is a free service, by the way. And by way of disclosure, they're a client...so I'm glad you like it!

    Shel Holtz | August 2006 | Concord, CA

  • 4.Shelegant!

    And no bandwidth blues, looks to me! Thanks for the tip!

    Allan Jenkins | August 2006 | Copenhagen

  • 5.Of course, he could also just upload the video to Youtube or revver. Wouldn't have the notes, but embedded display just like that. Although the notes are great. ;-)

    Sab | August 2006 | Germany

  • 6.And, Sebastien, you can add your own comments, as well! Try to do THAT on YouTube!

    Shel Holtz | August 2006 | Concord, CA

  • 7.I am guessing text comments in the "liner notes"? (work pc, not accessing movie at the moment) Because on youtube you can leave video comments and "regular" comments. I am not sure which ones I'd prefer.
    I think in the future, a lot depends on how any sort of comments can be incorporated with the playing on a mobile device.

    Sebastian | August 2006 | Germany

  • 8.Because I rely on PodPress to publish my vidblog and podcasts on my WordPress blog, I am hesitant about using any other 3rd-party system like ClickTV, even though I can see it can add great value. Is there any user experience with PodPress and ClickTV in ClickTV's customer list?

    Lee | August 2006 | Adelaide Hills, Australia

  • 9.I love PodPress because it's stats engine is really helpful to me -- I'd hate to wash the baby overboard when adding more bathwater...

    Lee | August 2006 | Adelaide

  • 10.I think it's apples and oranges, Lee. Would you not use a YouTube video in a blog post because you use PodPress? ClickTV works on the same principle -- copy the code from the Click.TV site and paste it into your blog post. No, you won't get the stats, but you can always get those with a free StatCounter account.

    In the meantime, I'll forward your question to the fine folks at Click.TV to see if they have a way for a Click.TV video to work with PodPress.

    Shel Holtz | August 2006 | Concord, CA

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