Koreans Cannot Upload And Comment On YouTube
Google has disabled the ability to upload YouTube videos and comment in Korea due to a Draconian new South Korean law passed April 1. Under the new “Comprehensive Measures for Information Protection on the Internet” law, people must identify themselves with a name and identification number before they can participate on YouTube.
Koreans can bypass this by using a different country version of YouTube.
YouTube Adding Full Length Sony Movies
YouTube is in talks to license full-length Sony Pictures movies for streaming on the site. If this is going ahead, YouTube will be able to compete with Hulu, which is streaming full-length movies and TV shows.
Sony Pictures is already streaming more than 60 feature films on it’s own Crackle.com. Disney reportedly in talks to add full TV episodes to YouTube.
With YouTube, Hulu, Crackle offering full length films, the time to ditch cable tv is upon us.
Source: YouTube, Sony Pictures in talks over feature films
China Bans YouTube
China has banned YouTube internet video sharing website. Could this block due to a recent video that was spotted on YouTube showing handcuffed Tibetan prisoners being beaten by a Chinese police officer?
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, “Many people have a false impression that the Chinese government fears the Internet. In fact it is just the opposite.” Google has confirmed China has blocked YouTube.
Source: “Unafraid” China apparently fears YouTube
YouTube Windows For Windows Mobile
YouTube videos are now available for Windows Mobile and Symbian series 60 phones. Users can go to m.youtube.com from their phones to download the new app immediately.
From Google blog:
- More phones: Supports most Windows Mobile and Nokia S60 devices (a list of supported Nokia S60 devices is available here).
- Speed: Faster application start-up, searching, and video loading. For even quicker access, add the application icon to your phone’s home screen.
- Video quality: The application automatically detects your device and network capabilities, and selects the highest available stream quality based on those. Videos will look sharper and sound clearer than ever.
- WiFi: Improved streaming over WiFi to support a wider range of networks.
- More robust streaming: Improved buffering ensures that videos will play even in weak coverage areas.
- Easy video viewing: Once installed, no configuration is required outside of the application. We’ve worked really hard to make video playback “just work”.
YouTube Blocks Music Videos In UK
If you are from the United Kingdom, you will not able to watch the above video from U2 performing Magnificent live at Fordham.
Google’s YouTube has to unplug all music videos in the UK after negotiations with Performing Right Society (PRS), which collects licensing fees for artists and labels, turned sour.
From YouTube blog: Our previous licence from PRS for Music has expired, and we’ve been unable so far to come to an agreement to renew it on terms that are economically sustainable for us. PRS is now asking us to pay many, many times more for our licence than before.
Pirate Bay Says That 80% Of Their Torrents Are Legal
Pirate Bay spokesman Peter Sunde Kolmisopp took the stand in the fifth day of The Pirate Bay’s trial and shared his survey that 80% of the torrents on the site are legal. Peter also said that there are a larger proportion of infringing material on YouTube than on The Pirate Bay.
The trial will continue on Tuesday with testimonies from the entertainment and content industry. Last Friday Pirate Bay threw a party for 200 people and the event was broadcast live on the Spectral website.
YouTube Adds HD Channel
Google’s YouTube has released high-definition (HD) category for video and created new landing pages to make it simpler to find popular video categories. Youtube is staying ahead of competitors like Hulu. The HD format video has resolution of 1290 by 720 pixels. Non-HD videos are at 640 by 480 pixels.
YouTube Streaming Full Length MGM Films
YouTube will stream full-length feature files and TV content from Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) Studios. MGM Studios will initially post episodes of its American Gladiators program on YouTube. The studio will also show full length movies like Legally Blonde, Bulletproof Monk and The Magnificent Seven with ads.
Source: YouTube to post full-length MGM films
YouTube May Stream Full Length Feature Film
YouTube may be on the verge of streaming full-length major motion films on a new service, according to an entertainment executive. This will be similar to what Hulu is offering where you can watch ad-supported movies in a widescreen format. The launch date is in the vicinity of January next year.
Source: Feature films coming to YouTube
Full TV Episodes On YouTube
Google will try to gain more revenue from YouTube by placing ads on full TV episodes of favourite shows such as Star Trek, The Young and the Restless, 90210, MacGuyer, and recent hit shows Dexter and Californication.
