Have a break, have a KitKat

The Google Android operating system has gone through a number of names, that include: Ice Cream Sandwich and recently Jelly Bean. The next iteration needs to have a 'K' and Google have opted for KitKat(R)! Yes the original biscuit bar, and at the time of writing this post, there were obvious links to both products! 

First of all I thought it was a spoof, but the reality is they are completely serious. The most refreshing part is that there is no actual money changing hands between Nestle and Google. There appears to be a mutual agreement to use the logo and name, the Google team apparently have KitKat's as their late night programming chocolate snacks (Source: BBC News).  I think it is good to see companies using their products in clever ways. :)  Roll on the new update for KitKat 4.4 on Android systems! Enjoy the video :)

YouTube adds Creative Commons for uploads

I was interested to find that YouTube now has a Creative Commons option for their uploads. The ability to share content with others and also allow them to adapt for their own needs it good for all open source users, this addition is certainly an added bonus. Although as pointed out by a colleague this does not include the Non-Commercial (NC) part, which your educational establishment or company may prefer, not forgetting those wishing to make money from their work.

Looking at the details provided by Youtube it quotes:

For more information on the CC-BY license—a summary of the full Legal Code with the full license accessible at the bottom of the page—please visit this page on CreativeCommons.org.

This creative commons page actually states its an:

Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

You are free:

to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work

to Remix — to adapt the work

to make commercial use of the work

Under the following conditions:

Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work)...

If your dont want other companies using your content, then probably steer clear of this option, it may not be the best option. Perhaps YouTube will also provide an option that has NC in the future? Could be handy.

YouTube Video Editor part 2

Thought I would throw in this quick update about the YouTube online editor. This is in addition to my previous post while in Beta testing. Users with YouTube accounts will now notice that the Video Editor tab appears at the top, rather than manually typing in the URL.

Notable changes:

• There is no longer a limit of 7 clips.
• There are a set of 3 simple transitions cross-fade, wipe and slide. (cross-fade is my personal favourite for a more professional touch)
• Preview playback is extremely grainy, but the final output will be as good as the original quality.
• Moving the preview playback slider is very dependant on network speed, typically you have to watch all the way through to see if transitions and video work...

Select image to enlarge

It's a very simple process of drop and drag, items can be easily removed by simply using the 'X' on each of the transition or video objects.  Notably adding the music will still prevent the user from downloading the MP4 file later, so if you intend using your completed file elsewhere it is preferable to add music or additional sound using an offline package later. Hopefully YouTube will add the option to upload your own sound files in the future and then allow MP4 downloads.

 The MP4 download option can be found as shown (from the 'My Videos' area):

A word of warning, if you get too carried away you may find that the Download MP4 option disappears from the drop down menu, usually it warns you that the option is 'currently not available'.  So what happens? Essentially there is a limit of two MP4 downloads per hour as described in the YouTube help, so choose your downloads well...  If you need more, just come back later...

Overall, a very handy simple, quick and free video editor that will suit most peoples requirements for simple educational videos. As YouTube also hosts your videos (for free) all videos can also be easily embedded into online resources. Thank you YouTube and keep up the good work.