2008: The Year In Video

It has been a busy and exciting year here at YouTube. With 13 hours of video uploaded every minute, hundreds of millions of views a day and 23 country-specific versions of the site, apart from anything else we were faced by a mountain content to sift through and myriad factors to bear in mind when compiling our end-of-year list of memorable moments. Which is why we turned to our estimable team of statisticians to help formulate the selection – if only to avoid unseemly bust-ups around the office.




With the help of our all-powerful analytics tool, the aim was to balance the raw power of heavy video views with a subtle blend of community engagement metrics including ratings, favorites and the ability to stir up a comments storm. The net result was a cluster of memorable video moments which this year we have whittled down to 24 and will reveal at the rate of one an hour until 2009 dawns and the whole process can begin in earnest again. Until then, revel in the videos that made the cut last year:










At the stroke of midnight (Pacific Time) you can expect a more detailed run-down of the clips on the list complete with some background information to place them in context. Until then, it would spoil the surprise to breathe a word of the videos to come. So sit back, enjoy your New Year’s Eve and prepare yourself for a jog through the most memorable YouTube moments of 2008.




Have fun,


The YouTube Team

More about → 2008: The Year In Video

In Memoriam: A Salute to Those Who Departed in 2008

As 2008 comes to a close, we pause to pay our respects to those notables we lost this year. Today's homepage salute honors a wide range of the dearly departed -- amongst them, a 20th Century movie legend admired for his work in philanthropy, the South African singer and human rights activist known as "Mama Africa", a comedian who shared the humor behind "Seven Dirty Words," to a computer science professor who taught his life's wisdom via "The Last Lecture".



Here one of the world's best-known mountaineers and explorers receives a musical tribute by a group of fellow New Zealanders who sing the praises of this "Humble Mountain Man."







As you watch this series of video tributes, we encourage you to share your own memories in celebration of the things these remarkable people shared with the world.



In Memoriam,



The YouTube Team

More about → In Memoriam: A Salute to Those Who Departed in 2008

Send A Filmmaker To Sundance

Drum roll please…the prestigious programming team at the Sundance Film Festival has reviewed the many outstanding films submitted to this year's Project Direct short film competition and the results are in!



We were thrilled to see so many of you who competed in last year's contest return for more, and we were equally thrilled to see so much new talent alongside them.



In fact, some of last year's finalists made it into the top 10 once again, proving that filmmakers on YouTube are not one-hit wonders, but consistent, talented storytellers.



Now it's up to all of you to decide which of these 10 filmmakers will make it to the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.



The filmmakers' challenge was to create a short film including 3 specific props: a red phone and 2 other props made famous by films from the Sundance Film Festival's 25 year history.



Your challenge is to watch them all and vote for your favorites at youtube.com/ProjectDirect.



For a sneak peek of the top 10, check out Darren Aronofsky's video announcing the finalists:







Now start voting! You have until 11:59PM EST on January 3rd to cast your ballot.



Enjoy,

Sara P.

YouTube Film

More about → Send A Filmmaker To Sundance

YouTube Year-End Video Roundup: A Look Back at Some of the Most Memorable Videos of 2008

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – December 22, 2008 – YouTube, the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos, today announced the 2008 YouTube Year-End Video Roundup. Every minute 13 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube and every day hundreds of millions of videos are viewed. This list highlights just some of the YouTube videos people were thinking and talking about most through a formula that includes view counts, most shared, most discussed, top rated and general popularity or influence on popular culture.



"This year's list offers a glimpse at the tremendous growth YouTube has experienced as a company and as an online community," said Hunter Walk, Director of Product Management for YouTube. "We are pleased to see the diversity of content that YouTube users are watching and talking about. The most popular videos on YouTube come from regular users, emerging online studios and the largest of media companies. YouTube has truly leveled the playing field for all content creators."



Each of the following YouTube videos became a cultural phenomenon this year:



Pork and Beans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI


Weezer's "Pork And Beans" video debuted on YouTube in May. Drawing on 24 of the biggest viral hits the site has seen to date -- from "Dramatic Chipmunk" to "Miss Teen USA 2007 South Carolina" to Tay Zonday's "Chocolate Rain" -- the video salutes some of the more memorable moments and people in YouTube's history, generating more than 15,500,000 clicks in the process.



Christian the Lion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U


This video about an unbreakable bond between man and beast was one of the most talked about in '08. It briefly chronicles the true story of a lion being reunited with the two men who raised him, years after he'd been released back into the wild and become the leader of his own pride. The actual reunion took place in 1972, but this archive footage was rediscovered and posted to YouTube earlier this year.



Frozen Grand Central: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo


The New York-based collective Improv Everywhere have become firm favorites on the site, thanks to their unique public hijinks. Videos like "No Pants Subway Ride" and "Food Court Musical" offer good examples of their large-scale pranks, but the elaborate public performance "Frozen Grand Central Station" was especially popular with viewers. The video features more than 200 people simultaneously freezing in place at Grand Central Station in New York City; the reactions of onlookers are as striking as the stunt itself.



Where the Hell is Matt? (2008): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY


Matt Harding is best known as the goofy guy who danced his way around the world. First in 2006 when he danced solo, but in 2008 Harding recreated his hit video, this time dancing with residents of the places he visited. Harding's silly jigs have brought inspiration and joy to millions of people – more than 14 million have viewed it on YouTube alone. As one observant user said, "It shows that no matter how different we are on the outside, inside we all just want to dance, laugh, and have fun."



Rick Astley "Never Going To Give You Up": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI


Chances are that at some point in 2008, you or someone you know experienced a "Rick Roll": a bait-and-switch prank that dupes you into watching the video for Rick Astley's 1980s hit "Never Going To Give You Up." The joke even transcended the Internet, where it was born, with organizers of football games, parades and rallies "Rick Rolling" unsuspecting attendees. But perhaps the ultimate "Rick Roll" occurred on April Fool's Day, when YouTube rigged up every feature video on the homepage to play Astley's famous clip.



Will.i.am "Yes We Can": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZHou18Cdk


When Barack Obama delivered his concession speech after the New Hampshire primary, little did he know he was providing the script -- and the inspiration -- for the most-watched political video of 2008. Will.i.am's "Yes We Can" music video, a celebrity-studded mash-up of Obama's speech, became an instant viral sensation upon its release in early February, and had a massive influence on Election '08 and popular culture. Seen over 6 million times just on Will.i.am's official YouTube channel, the video has inspired voters, young people, and satirists alike.



Fred Loses His Meds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9MA0eW8yyw


Who says you can't become an overnight success on YouTube? Fifteen-year-old Lucas Cruikshank, or Fred Figglehorn as he is known to fans, created a Web series in which he plays a hyperactive six-year-old with anger management issues. Fred's hyper-kinetic videos quickly caught people's attention and helped make him the fastest-rising star in YouTube history. This video (his second) was Fred's first to break a million views, jump-starting his meteoric rise to his current position as the #1 Most Subscribed user on YouTube.



Star Wars According to a Three-Year Old: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBM854BTGL0


This sweet-faced little lady became a YouTube sensation with her retelling of the original Star Wars movie. Fans of the film can go on for hours discussing the plot, but this three-year-old sums it up in less than two minutes. If not the most detailed description of Star Wars ever, it's arguably the most adorable. Warning: Spoiler Alert.



The MILEY Story


* Miley Cyrus "7 Things" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr0Wv5DJhuk


* Miley Cyrus - 7 Things - Spoof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTC4qkb8Ppk


* M&M CRU FINAL DANCE BATTLE - Cyrus Blaine Seacrest Tatum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NECNIKmMgS8


Not only did Miley release a hit song (and video) this year with "7 Things," which inspired several user-generated parodies (some of them nearly as popular as the original), but the Hannah Montana star also launched her own YouTube channel, mileymandy, with her best friend Mandy Jiroux. The girls have used their channel to vlog and generally horse around for their audience of over 292,000 subscribers, and it's also where they post their "M&M Cru" dance battle videos, which together have notched nearly 15 million views and took the world's "biggest online dance battle" to a whole new level.



Super Mario Rescues The Princess: Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGE34VAqYTk


As the creator of Family Guy and American Dad, Seth MacFarlane has had a tremendous impact on envelope-pushing animated entertainment. This year, MacFarlane decided to bring his talents to the lnternet, launching "Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy" exclusively on Google and YouTube. Not only was this a groundbreaking event for online video, it also opened up new opportunities for advertisers, as content creators started to generate revenue from their videos both on and off YouTube.

More about → YouTube Year-End Video Roundup: A Look Back at Some of the Most Memorable Videos of 2008

Today's Totally Awesome Guest Editors

A week ago, the vlogbrothers took a break from their usual routine of filming puppies doing cute things and punishing each other, to launch the "Project for Awesome," a call to all YouTube users to "take over YouTube" by creating videos that promote their favorite charity, nonprofit or cause.



Today, we're adding the YouTube stamp of approval to this worthy project by having the vlogbrothers "take over" the YouTube homepage with their favorite submissions to the Project for Awesome...and with over 1190 entries, this guest editorship was no easy task:







The vlogbrothers' selections range from the hilarious to the serious, the absurd to the informative -- the tie that binds them together is that each video features a YouTube community member who is trying to make the world a better place (or as the vlogbrothers might say, "trying to reduce world suck").



It's not too late for you to help make the world a little more awesome in 2009 -- you can add your comments or ratings to these videos (karmic points if you rate high) or make your own video about the cause that inspires you most.



Have fun,

Ramya R.

YouTube Nonprofits & Activism

More about → Today's Totally Awesome Guest Editors

The Ups and Downs of Music Licensing for YouTube

Every day we work with the music community to license your favorite music for you to use on YouTube. But music licensing is very complicated. The right to use a single song often requires permission from multiple owners, particularly when it comes to original fan-made videos that incorporate commercial music.



We work with the music industry worldwide -- with major and independent labels and publishers, rights collecting societies, and with artists and songwriters directly -- to build user-friendly licensing arrangements. With these partners and our cutting-edge Content ID technology, we've created a win-win situation the likes of which never existed before YouTube: a system that gives artists a brand new revenue source and a great way to connect with their fans.



That said, despite our constant efforts, it isn't always possible to maintain these innovative agreements. Sometimes, if we can't reach acceptable business terms, we must part ways with successful partners. For example, you may notice videos that contain music owned by Warner Music Group being blocked from the site. Don't worry - if you receive a takedown notification, you will have a couple of options to choose from in order to keep your original video creations up. Check out Audioswap, a one-of-a-kind library of pre-cleared music ready for you to drop into your videos any time.



We understand this might be frustrating for some of you, and we're sorry about that. Our ultimate goal is to treat everyone fairly: to respect the rights of musicians, songwriters, and their biggest fans, so that everyone can continue enjoying original content on YouTube.



The YouTube Team

More about → The Ups and Downs of Music Licensing for YouTube

Project: Report - Vote for the Winner!

The final videos are in for the third and last round of Project: Report, the journalism contest YouTube is holding in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. Now is your chance to view the five finalists' submissions and vote to determine which of these aspiring journalists you think should win the grand prize -- a $10,000 fellowship with the Pulitzer Center to report on a story abroad.











At the outset of Round 3, the five finalists were each given two Sony video cameras. With these video cameras, their assignment was to produce a piece of collaborative storytelling that empowered an underrepresented community to share its own story with the world. First, each reporter chose a group of people rarely covered by the traditional media. Then, the reporter helped the members of this group use the camera to document their own lives.











Visit the Project: Report channel to watch the finalists' Round 3 submissions and then vote for the videos you find the most compelling. You can only vote for one video per day, and voting continues through Friday, January 9, 2009. The winner will be announced on Monday, January 12, 2009 -- so stay tuned!




Yours,

Olivia M.

YouTube News & Politics

More about → Project: Report - Vote for the Winner!

YouTube Symphony Orchestra : plus que 40 jours pour envoyer vos vidéos !

Avis aux musiciens : il vous reste désormais 40 jours pour vous préparer et passer à la postérité en participant au tout premier orchestre symphonique en ligne, le YouTube Symphony Orchestra (YTSO pour les intimes).

Vous trouverez les réponses à toutes vos questions sur la chaîne symphonyfr et dans notre FAQ.

Vous pourrez non seulement contribuer au projet mais aussi tenter votre chance de jouer au mythique Carnegie Hall de New-York !

Une vidéo pour participer

L’expérience vous tente mais vous ne souhaitez pas concourir pour le concert au Carnegie Hall ? Aucun problème, il vous suffit d’envoyer une seule vidéo dans laquelle vous jouez la partition correspondant à l’instrument de votre choix.

Les meilleures vidéos reçues seront compilées en une vidéo collaborative unique qui sera diffusée sur YouTube.

Deux vidéos pour auditionner

Envie de devenir célèbre ? Enregistrez une seconde vidéo et montrez-nous vos talents de musicien en interprétant une partition d’un compositeur de votre choix parmi notre sélection (Bach, Brahms, Debussy, Mozart… il y en a pour tous les goûts).

Peut-être ferez-vous partie des heureux élus qui partiront à New-York pour participer au concert historique du YouTube Symphony Orchestra !

NB : La date limite d’envoi des vidéos est fixée au 28 Janvier 2009, quelle que soit la catégorie (participation et/ou audition).

L'équipe YouTube

More about → YouTube Symphony Orchestra : plus que 40 jours pour envoyer vos vidéos !

Hi-Definition Rollout and New Landing Pages on YouTube

We have two developments that we would like to share with you: the expansion of our HD player and a test of three new landing pages designed to help you find the news, music and movies on YouTube that matter most to you.

HD on YouTube

Starting today, if you click the "watch in HD" option below any HD-enabled video, the video will automatically play in widescreen – so you can find out where the hell Matt is in glorious HD, if you so wish. As part of this launch, we have created an HD Videos area where you can browse videos uploaded in the HD format. In anticipation of your questions – including how to encode your videos to take advantage of this new feature and how to avoid the dreaded "windowboxing" – we have prepared an FAQ in the Help Center. Hopefully you'll find any technical information you need there, but feel free to post follow-up questions to the YouTube Community Help Forums.

New Video Landing Pages

News, music and movies are huge categories on YouTube and as a result it can sometimes be tough to find exactly what you're hoping to watch. In a bid to smooth your path to the perfect video, we are testing three new video landing pages: youtube.com/news, youtube.com/music, and youtube.com/movies. The news page will be populated with breaking stories from around the world as well as news drawn from the Google News service; music will feature rising videos alongside playlists dedicated to different genres; movies will showcase some of the most popular short and full-length movies on YouTube today. We'll keep a close eye on how these pages perform with a view to rolling them out in other categories.




With these developments we are hoping to improve your viewing experience and make it easier to find the content you want to watch. Leave a comment and let us know what you think…



Happy holidays and, as always, have fun watching!


The YouTube Team

More about → Hi-Definition Rollout and New Landing Pages on YouTube

YouTube Spreads Holiday Cheer: Find and Watch Your Favorite Videos -- in HD -- Right Here!

">From October's announcement of full-length TV
to early December's HD player launch, we've invested a lot to make your YouTube experience an entertaining and enjoyable one. With your help we have transformed YouTube into a place where anyone can dialogue with Queen Rania, learn how to cook from bite-size "Food Network" videos, and enjoy full-length classic TV shows -- all on a single platform. With thousands of partners and a seemingly infinite diversity of content on YouTube, we realize searching for and finding videos that matter most to you is a priority. That's why today we're testing three new entertainment landing pages -- youtube.com/news, ">youtube.com/music, & "> youtube.com/movies. Browse the ">youtube.com/music page to see rising music videos as well as major label and indie-specific playlists. If you're feeling newsy, check out the youtube.com/news tab to view breaking stories around the world and the latest Google News video hits. Or visit youtube.com/movies to find full-length films from MGM, Lionsgate, Cinetic Media, Documentary Channel, IndieFlix, Image Entertainment and more!



Today also marks the expansion of our HD player and HD search. Now if you select the "watch in HD" option below any HD-enabled video, that video will automatically play in widescreen. (To see new widescreen HD player in action, watch the video below.) You can also conduct a search for HD videos only by selecting the new "HD" option under the Videos tab.







Rounding out today's yuletide offerings is our expanded e-Commerce platform. Through e-Commerce, YouTubers in the United States can click-to-buy DVDs on Amazon.com related to the movies, TV shows, and other videos they're watching on YouTube. We're also taking our first steps to roll this out internationally, so starting today anyone in the UK will be able to download songs from Apple's iTunes UK store (www.apple.com/uk/itunes) directly from related YouTube music videos. Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to add retail links to our library of music videos and movies, including any videos claimed by partners through our content identification and management system.



Happy holidays and, as always, have fun watching!



The YouTube Team

More about → YouTube Spreads Holiday Cheer: Find and Watch Your Favorite Videos -- in HD -- Right Here!

New, Wider Layout For Your Channel

We wanted to give everyone a heads up that we'll shortly be expanding all standard channels over to the new 960 pixel width. This is the same change we made with the video watch page a few weeks ago, and will make channels wider and consistent with the rest of the site.



Have channel backgrounds you want to get ready for the change? You can get a sneak peek of what your channel will look like by visiting the following URL today:



http://www.youtube.com/user/YourUsername?wide=1



(e.g. if your username is "jane12345," then replace "YourUsername" in the URL with "jane12345" to see how your own channel will appear).



Holler at us with your feedback,

The YouTube Team

More about → New, Wider Layout For Your Channel

'Tis the Season of Giving on YouTube

As you're making that list of presents and checking it twice, there are several YouTube channels that are hoping you'll add a charitable donation to your gift-giving plans.



Nonprofit organization Changing the Present is asking users to donate livestock -- the real gift that keeps on giving -- to impoverished farmers, while Marine Toys for Tots invites you to supply a toy for a child in need. Socially responsible organizations are also getting in on the act. This holiday season, for every pair of shoes purchased, Tom's Shoes will donate another pair to a child in Ethiopia:







And if you just want to go the old-fashioned route and donate money straight to charity, many YouTube nonprofit partners have a Google Checkout button embedded right on their channel pages, making it easier than ever to donate to a good cause.



Already done your part for those less fortunate? You can help spread the joy of giving through the Vlogbrothers' Project for Awesome. All you have to do to participate is create a video about your favorite charity or cause and encourage the YouTube community to support it. The Vlogbrothers have even have promised to donate $1000 to the charity that inspires the best video – so get to work!




Happy Holidays,

Ramya R.

YouTube Nonprofits & Activism

More about → 'Tis the Season of Giving on YouTube

Win a Trip to Davos, and Have Your Say

It's been a year of crisis in the global economy. The collapse of credit has left countless people in crushing debt, prompted governments to bail out their nation's strongest companies and brought instability to markets that had seen decades of fast growth in a newly globalized economy.



That's the bad news. The good news is that it often takes a crisis to bring about change.



This year at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, the world's top thinkers and leaders will gather to discuss how to bring about that change. They believe that fresh solutions have to come from fresh sources, so they're asking for your help: YouTube is partnering with WEF to give you the chance to join the debate on four key issues facing the planet today. One lucky YouTuber will even get to fly to Davos, all expenses paid, to attend the Forum, which takes place January 28-February 1, 2009.



It's called the Davos Debates - and there are four main topics being discussed: the economy, politics, ethics, and the environment. Go to the Davos Debates YouTube channel to vote on the 4 questions - or add your own video outlining your ideas for shaping the post-crisis world. WEF will choose the top video submitted by January 20, and that person will get to fly to Switzerland to join the discussion in person.







In addition, many of your videos will be played at panel sessions at Davos, where world leaders will listen to your thoughts and opinions as they debate these issues. Tell them your personal stories: how are the world's new challenges affecting your life, and what do you want to see happen next?



We live in a world that continually presents new challenges but also offers seemingly limitless possibilities. This is your chance to impact history with your own creative ideas. So submit your video by January 20, and help shape our collective future in 2009.



Steve Grove


YouTube News and Politics

More about → Win a Trip to Davos, and Have Your Say

Tis' the Season: YouTube Greeting Cards Are Back!

Last year we introduced our "holiday video card," and over a million of you sent fun and festive video cards to your friends and loved ones. This year we're bringing it back with even more themes and featured videos for you to choose from, like this one:







To create your card, visit the YouTube Greeting Cards site where you can choose from dozens of holiday videos uploaded by the YouTube community. Or if you prefer, send a greeting video of your own – either select a video that you've previously uploaded or record a brand new one. For your convenience, we've also added a link on every YouTube watch page under the "share options" section so you can send any embeddable video on YouTube as a greeting card.



After you've selected your video, pick a theme, type in your personal message, enter the recipients' email addresses, and voila – instant holiday cheer.



And if you're in need of music for a video you've uploaded, we've recently added many holiday songs to our AudioSwap catalog.



Save trees, save money, and spread joy - all from the comfort of your home.



Happy Holidays!


The YuleTube Team

More about → Tis' the Season: YouTube Greeting Cards Are Back!

Safety, Education, and Empowerment on YouTube

We've always been committed to providing you with the tools to have the best possible YouTube experience. Educating parents, teens, and families on how to stay safe on our site is a critical part of that commitment, so we can't think of a more appropriate place to introduce our new Abuse and Safety Center than at the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) conference in Washington, D.C., today.



The center features straightforward safety tips and multimedia resources from experts and prominent safety organizations. We are empowering people with the information and tools they need to help them deal with issues like cyberbullying, online harassment, and hateful content.



The new center also makes it easier for you to find our Help and Safety Tool, which lets you report concerns to us and gives you granular control over your channel, like the option of blocking comments from specific users or disabling the video comments feature on specific videos.



The Abuse and Safety Center is easy to find. Just look at the bottom of any YouTube page and click on the link titled "Abuse and Safety Center". From phishing scams to just learning what it means to be a good YouTube citizen, you'll find the information you need.



Finally, check out FOSI's meeting page for more information about our presence at the conference, where Shantal Rands from Google's legal team will receive a FOSI Award for Outstanding Achievement in advancing the goal of a safer Internet. Plus, Andrew McLaughlin, Google's Director of Global Policy & Government Affairs, is speaking about "Protecting Kids and Free Speech Online," and YouTube's Policy Analyst Micah Schaffer will address online safety in social media.



We'll continue to add new information and features to the Center, so check back often.



The YouTube Team

More about → Safety, Education, and Empowerment on YouTube

Nonprofits Commemorate Human Rights Declaration

Today marks the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In commemoration, human rights organizations are using YouTube to inform citizens about the significance of the UDHR and the human rights violations that still plague our society. Today's homepage features a sample of these videos, such as the animated piece below which includes information about the UDHR (as well as a catchy soundtrack):









Meanwhile, WITNESS, a nonprofit devoted to exposing humans rights violations through video, is using raw footage from places like href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZCnPu_iJwU">Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to educate citizens about the human rights atrocities occurring all over the world. WITNESS also wants average citizens to get involved -- you can join their campaign to raise awareness by posting a video response to the question: "What image opened your eyes to human rights?"




Finally, another organization taking a stand on humans rights is The Elders, a group of lifelong peace-promoters including Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu, and Mary Robinson. These leaders have been using their "EveryHumanHasRights" YouTube channel as a platform to href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIVXkN15GwU">speak out against instances of man's inhumanity to man over the past year.




Video continues to serve as a powerful tool to expose incidents that threaten the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And while it may be impossible to end human rights abuses everywhere, we can be grateful that there are citizens armed with cameras who help bring these abuses to light.




Peace,

Ramya R.

YouTube Nonprofits & Activism

More about → Nonprofits Commemorate Human Rights Declaration

YouTube On Your Desktop

YouTube gives you the chance to stay on top of news and current events, practice some sweet dance moves, explore new hobbies and interests, and a whole lot more. So, today the Google Desktop team is pleased to release a YouTube gadget for Google Desktop. Once installed, you'll be able to bring up the gadget in an instant and search for videos (hint: pressing the shift key twice brings up all your hidden Desktop gadgets). The videos will play directly inside the gadget, which also shows a feed of the day's most popular clips.







The gadget works on Linux and Windows. We hope you enjoy, and please let us know what you think.



Cheers,

Ronald H. and James Y.

Google Desktop Team

More about → YouTube On Your Desktop

Add Music to Your Videos Using AudioSwap and Rumblefish

Have you ever wanted to add music to your videos but just didn't have
the right music or the technical know-how to do it? Well, it's YouTube
AudioSwap and, most recently, Rumblefish to the rescue!



This week we've announced a partnership with Rumblefish, the sonic
branding and music licensing agency, to provide you with access to
thousands of fully licensed songs from Rumblefish's vast catalog of
independent artists. Using our AudioSwap tool, you can now easily add
pre-approved Rumblefish music, or selections from our already
extensive catalog of music, to your new or existing videos.



By giving your video a music soundtrack, you can provide a dramatic
touch that turns an average upload into a tearjerker or hipshaker.
Check out this video before the audio swap...







...and after we give it an audio make-over, courtesy of Rumblefish (and composer Franz Liszt):







Soon we plan on uploading hundreds of more songs to our AudioSwap
music library, in a wide variety of genres: from ambient, metal, and
experimental electronica, to R&B and classical scores. So check
AudioSwap frequently for updates.



For more information on AudioSwap and how to use it, visit this href="http://www.youtube.com/audioswap_about">helpful instructional
page..



Start Swappin'!



The YouTube Team

More about → Add Music to Your Videos Using AudioSwap and Rumblefish

"Recent Activity" on Your YouTube Channel

We're happy to announce a couple of new changes to your YouTube channels, based on the feedback and suggestions you've given to us.



The first is the creation of a "Recent Activity" box on your YouTube channel. This box will provide your viewers with a snapshot of recent changes you've made to your public channel, making your channel more dynamic, fresh and timely. For example, if you recently added a new favorite to your channel, visitors can find this favorite in the new Recent Activity box (as well as in the usual "Favorites" box). The Recent Activity box will also consolidate the separate "My Recent Ratings" and "My Recent Comments" boxes into this single activity window.



As always, we give you maximum control over how your channel is configured on the channel design page. And now, the Recent Activity privacy settings page (also available in the upper-right corner of the Recent Activity box) lets you choose what activity you want to appear in the Recent Activity box. It's important to note that we've set your initial Recent Activity settings according to what you already publicly show on your channel today - so, for example, if you're not already showing the Favorites box on your channel, then the Recent Activity box won't suddenly start showing new favorites you make.



Regarding bulletins, we've listened to you, and most of you didn't see the value in bulletins as they are today. So, we're taking a first step to make bulletins more useful. Although the bulletin box will be going away, now you can broadcast a bulletin directly to your channel visitors in your Recent Activity box. This not only provides a fun place to shout out personal updates and news, but also provides an additional way to communicate and engage with your channel's fans.



We hope you like these changes, and are always eager to hear your feedback - so please feel free to share your thoughts with us!



Update: As some people have noted, the "new" bulletin system no longer sent your bulletins out to your friends. We've just finished rolling out the next update to our bulletin system - your bulletins will now show up on your friends' homepages in their "Friend Activity" box.



The YouTube Team

More about → "Recent Activity" on Your YouTube Channel

A YouTube for All of Us

As a community, we have come to count on each other to be entertained, challenged, and moved by what we watch and share on YouTube. We've been thinking a lot lately about how to make the collective YouTube experience even better, particularly on our most visited pages. Our goal is to help ensure that you're viewing content that's relevant to you, and not inadvertently coming across content that isn't. Here are a few things we came up with:

• Stricter standard for mature content - While videos featuring pornographic images or sex acts are always removed from the site when they're flagged, we're tightening the standard for what is considered "sexually suggestive." Videos with sexually suggestive (but not prohibited) content will be age-restricted, which means they'll be available only to viewers who are 18 or older. To learn more about what constitutes "sexually suggestive" content, click here.



• Demotion of sexually suggestive content and profanity - Videos that are considered sexually suggestive, or that contain profanity, will be algorithmically demoted on our 'Most Viewed,' 'Top Favorited,' and other browse pages. The classification of these types of videos is based on a number of factors, including video content and descriptions. In testing, we've found that out of the thousands of videos on these pages, only several each day are automatically demoted for being too graphic or explicit. However, those videos are often the ones which end up being repeatedly flagged by the community as being inappropriate.



• Improved thumbnails - To make sure your thumbnail represents your video, your choices will now be selected algorithmically. You'll still have three thumbnails to choose from, but they will no longer be auto-generated from the 25/50/75 points in the video index.



• More accurate video information - Our Community Guidelines have always prohibited folks from attempting to game view counts by entering misleading information in video descriptions, tags, titles, and other metadata. We remain serious about enforcing these rules. Remember, violations of these guidelines could result in removal of your video and repeated violations will lead to termination of your account.

The preservation and improvement of the YouTube experience is a responsibility we share. Let's work together to ensure that the YouTube community continues to thrive as a positive place for all of us.



The YouTube Team

More about → A YouTube for All of Us

Two Weeks to Become a Star

It took Peter Jackson 438 days to shoot The Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, you only have another 14 days to create your own masterpiece.



On Monday, December 14, submissions close for Project: Direct, YouTube's annual short film competition. If you miss the deadline, you could also miss your chance to attend the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and to meet with the festival's Director of Programming, as well as to see your film screened at a festival event and distributed on DVD to hundreds of industry executives.



Don't let this happen! Make a short film, no more than five minutes long, creatively incorporating three props: choose two of those props from a list of 25 made famous by films from the Sundance Film Festival, and your third prop must be a red phone. To see the list of 25 props, visit youtube.com/projectdirect and select "Choose Props."



Remember that this contest is only open to users in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Brazil, Spain, Italy and France, however we encourage users outside those regions to send films to filmz@youtube.com for a chance to be featured on the site.



Good luck!



Sara P.

YouTube Film

More about → Two Weeks to Become a Star

Welcome New FANalysts

We recently added two new football FANalysts to our roster off the waiver wire, and they've hit the ground running. Meet your new pigskin prognosticators:



The Young Turks: Known more for their no-nonsense political analysis, TYT are also avid (rabid?) football fans and bring that same keen eye to the gridiron.


CowboyTD: Vlogging from his dorm room at the University of Texas, CowboyTD makes no bones about where his loyalties lie but nonetheless has a clear grasp of what's going on league-wide and offers solid advice for these critical remaining weeks.



At this point in the season, a smart roster move or pick-up can make all the difference, so check back to the FANalysts channel every week for fantasy tips and more football talk. While you're there, check out the Take My TV Contest: upload a video showing your crummy TV before December 7, and you could win all the gear you need for a state-of-the-art entertainment room from Circuit City.



Thanks!


Andrew B.


YouTube Sports

More about → Welcome New FANalysts

Guru Challenge: Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is about many things: expressing gratitude for the good things in life, being with family and – let's be frank – eating. Turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie: you know the drill. But, sadly, these things don't cook themselves, which is why we geared the latest Guru Challenge towards finding the finest Thanksgiving recipes that YouTube has to offer.




Operating as an element of the Holiday Solutions Center, designed to guide you through Thanksgiving troubles, Hannukah hitches and the cold chill of Christmas, we have brought together videos that we believe will help smooth your path towards a memorable holiday dinner.









The thorny issue of Thanksgiving dinner hopefully addressed, remember that the Holiday Solutions Center isn't all about cooking tips. We've got decorating masterclasses, advice on plotting a pain-free path through the gift giving process, and bright ideas galore across the board. It's a digital database of smart solutions.




So, thanks to everyone who submitted a video to the challenge and congratulations to the garlanded Gurus. Here's to an unforgettable Thanksgiving – and one that the Holiday Solutions Center has hopefully made a tiny bit tastier thanks to our creative cooks.




Happy Holidays,


Sadia H.


YouTube HowTo & Style

More about → Guru Challenge: Thanksgiving Recipes

Bigger Isn't Always Better... But in This Case, We Believe It Is

Over the years we've heard a lot of feedback from you about what you'd like to change about YouTube, and the size of our video player is always top of mind. That's why today we're excited to announce a bigger YouTube player.



We're expanding the width of the page to 960 pixels to better reflect the quality of the videos you create and the screens that you use to watch them. This new, wider player is in a widescreen aspect ratio which we hope will provide you with a cleaner, more powerful viewing experience. And don't worry, your 4:3 aspect ratio videos will play just fine in this new player.



As always, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to share your thoughts with us on this exciting, new change happening for all videos on YouTube.



Have fun watching!

The YouTube Team

More about → Bigger Isn't Always Better... But in This Case, We Believe It Is

Help Center Videos Made By You: Call for Submissions - Round 2

Last month we took video submissions from the YouTube community to be included in our Help Center. We received a ton of creative, informative videos and have embedded six of them in our Help entries. Check out the Round 1 selections in the Favorites section of the YouTubeHelp channel.



Based on such great success last month, we are opening the floodgates for Round 2! We're asking you again to use your skills to create videos that we can embed in our Help Center. If selected, your video will be seen by many of the 1+ million users who visit the Help Center each day.



To participate, here's what you need to do:



1. Decide which Help Center entries you'd like to make an original video about:

• Editing my video


• Customizing channels


• Contact lists


• Transferring from camera to computer


• File formats


• Embedding videos


• Can't hear audio


• Clear cache and cookies


• Using QuickCapture


• Director, Musician, Comedian, Guru and Reporter accounts

2. Upload your video to your YouTube account, then submit it through this page.



Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

• Keep it brief (1-2 minutes is perfect. Last round we got some epics, which were great, but just too long).


• Be creative, clear and 100% original


• Stay on topic (only submissions which address the Help Center entries included in the list above will be accepted)


• Keep our Terms of Use and Community Guidelines in mind


• Have fun with it

The deadline for submitting your video is December 19, 2008.



Grab a camera and show off your helpful community spirit!



The YouTube Help Team

More about → Help Center Videos Made By You: Call for Submissions - Round 2

YouTube Live! The Buzz Builds...

Is Katy Perry really going to dress as a tube to sing "Hot And Cold"? Who are The League of Extraordinary Dancers, and what is their mission? Has Tay Zonday unwittingly stumbled upon the solution to The Economic Crisis? The answers to all these questions and more lie but three days away…



This coming Saturday, November 22, YouTube hosts YouTube Live – the first ever live streaming event on the site, designed to celebrate our extravagantly talented user community. In preparation for the big day, today on YouTube's home page we present a selection of videos from some of the personalities you have come to know and love – and one from Nalts:







Brilliant beatboxing, perfectly formed philology, Will.i.am and Soulja Boy Tellem… all these elements are going to come together at YouTube Live, and the best part is you don't need a ticket to attend – or even to be in the country. Starting at 5PM PST/8PM EST, YouTube will bring you the entire show, streaming live as it sparks into life and builds to a thunderous climax at Fort Mason Center's Herbst Pavilion in San Francisco. Part concert, part variety show and part party, YouTube Live is like… well… it's like YouTube. Only Live.



We hope you are as excited as we are to see all of this talent gathered in one place for your continued entertainment. Enjoy today's preview of the big day as participants announce their arrival and start to rehearse for the big event. Join us online!



Have fun,

The YouTube Team

More about → YouTube Live! The Buzz Builds...

Project: Report - Local Stories, Global Impact

Since the launch of Project: Report, aspiring journalists from around the world have produced video reports on issues not covered by the traditional media. Voting for Round 2 is complete, and the panel of journalists from the Pulitzer Center is in the process of tallying the final counts. Tomorrow, we will announce which five of the 10 semi-finalists will advance to the final round of competition and get one step closer to the $10,000 journalism fellowship to report on a story abroad.













Tomorrow, these five finalists begin their work on the third and final assignment: produce a piece of collaborative storytelling that empowers an underrepresented community to share its own story with the world. First, choose a group of people rarely covered by the traditional media. Then, let them use the camera to document their own lives.




The video must be five minutes or less. All entries must be submitted in English or have English subtitles. For those of you who were not selected as finalists, you can still complete the Round 3 assignment to compete for additional technology prizes from Sony Vaio and Intel.




If you're looking for some examples, take a look at this video from Pulitzer Center journalist Andre Lambertson on child soldiers in Liberia. He also offers tips for how to produce a piece of collaborative storytelling.




All accepted entries will be reviewed by a panel of journalists from the Pulitzer Center and judged based on the depth of the reporting, the clarity of the narrative, and the power of the story. The videos from the five finalists will also be voted on by the YouTube community.




Though only five reporters will move on to the final round, all ten of the semi-finalists produced impressive work, and in today's homepage takeover, we feature the videos they submitted in Round 2, each of which tells a story unfolding in a local community that touches on global themes and issues.




We hope you enjoy!




Yours,

Olivia M.

YouTube News & Politics

More about → Project: Report - Local Stories, Global Impact

The Spirit Takes Over the YouTube Screening Room

Lionsgate's new film The Spirit is hitting theaters everywhere this Christmas, and to honor the occasion, the YouTube Screening Room is going graphic. Graphic novel that is.



Directed by Frank Miller and based on the comic by Will Eisner, The Spirit tells the story of a rookie cop who returns from beyond the grave to fight evil in Central City. So, for the next two weeks we'll be featuring four shorts that reflect the film's spooky subject matter and comic book roots.



In "The Aviatrix," the only escape for a young woman woman living with cancer exists in the form of her comic book alter ego. A young couple attempting to salvage their marriage by dressing as superheroes find themselves faced with an even greater task after being unexpectedly forced out of their apartment in "Super Powers." Based on a 19th century urban legend, "Spring-Heeled Jack" tells the story of a goblin who steals the voices of naughty children. Finally, a little girl overlooked by everyone in her village takes her savage revenge in "The Little Girl Who Was Forgotten."



Happy viewing!



Sara P.

YouTube Film

More about → The Spirit Takes Over the YouTube Screening Room

Be A Record Breaker At YouTube UK

There is something about the Guinness Book of World Records that stirs people into action in ways ranging from the sublime to the gloriously ridiculous. Seeing as YouTube arguably provides a similar catalyst, today we are happy to hand the homepage over to Guinness Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday.

















The occasion? The fourth annual Guinness World Records Day, inaugurated to mark the publication's place in its own pages as the biggest-selling commercial book of all time. Craig has set himself the task of surfacing some of the best record-breaking videos out there, coming up with a list that spans global superstars and local heroes – although he argues that they share some common traits.







"The videos I've highlighted today all embody the spirit of determination and dedication required to earn yourself Guinness World Records certification," he explains. "This selection is, I truly believe, a realistic snapshot of the world we live in today. The news is full of doom and gloom, and rarely paints a true, balanced picture of the world we live in. The truth is that humanity is full of optimistic, fun-loving, determined people, and Guinness World Records is here to celebrate the fantastic diversity of people and their achievements."









As you can see above, Craig isn't beyond taking part in the record breaking process himself and is keen to spark that spirit in others. Today, for example, he will be joining the crowds at St Pancras station in London who, together with the Pants To Poverty organisation, will be attempting to set a new record for the Largest Gathering of People Wearing Pants. If they can do it, so can you – although if you want to share your efforts through YouTube, we'd really rather you remained fully dressed…







Have fun,


The YouTube Team

More about → Be A Record Breaker At YouTube UK

Flagging at YouTube: The Basics

The YouTube flagging system works best when you take the time to understand our Community Guidelines before you flag a video. Then, if you come across a video that you think may not belong on YouTube, it will be easier for you to let us know the reason you flagged it, whether it be for hate speech, nudity, violence, or another Guideline violation. Once a video is flagged, we review it quickly, and if we find that it shouldn't be on YouTube, we remove it within hours. It's as easy as that.



Lots of users ask us questions about flagging. Whether you're brand new to the Community Guidelines or looking to get a flagging refresher, check out this new video to get a closer look at how it works.







The next time you come across inappropriate content on the site, flag it!
We're counting on you.



The YouTube Team

More about → Flagging at YouTube: The Basics

Promote Your Video With YouTube Sponsored Videos

When we first started YouTube, our vision was to create a platform that would allow everyone to broadcast themselves. So when it came to developing an approach to online advertising and marketing, we had a similar goal: everyone should benefit from the experience, whether you're a user, advertiser, or content partner.



We've been fortunate to have grown so quickly. The popularity of YouTube has been outstanding — we have millions of viewers watching hundreds of millions of videos every day, and 13 hours of new video uploaded to the site every minute. But as our community has grown, it's become harder for people to get their content to stand out and be discovered. Aspiring musicians, talented performers, small business-owners and many others have asked for ways to promote their videos and reach users who are interested in their content.



So today, we're excited to announce our newest advertising innovation, YouTube Sponsored Videos. Sponsored Videos is a self-serve advertising platform that will allow you to promote your video to the audience you are interested in reaching in an easy, effective, democratic, and affordable way. Then, when people use YouTube to search for videos, YouTube will display the most relevant, compelling videos alongside the search results. These videos are clearly labeled as "sponsored videos" and are priced on a cost-per-click basis. (For more details about Sponsored Videos, you can visit ads.youtube.com, or read our announcement on the official Google blog.)



Check out our video for more details on how Sponsored Videos works:







If you have any videos you'd like to share with the world, give Sponsored Videos a try! It takes just a few minutes to set up, and you can set your budget at any level you wish. Please visit ads.youtube.com to start your own Sponsored Videos campaign.



Don't forget to let us know what you think about Sponsored Videos. You can leave a comment here or join the discussion in our Forums.



Have fun!

The YouTube Team

More about → Promote Your Video With YouTube Sponsored Videos

Attention Filmmakers: Who Wants To Go To Sundance?

Project: Direct, YouTube's annual short film competition, is back to offer another talented filmmaker a chance to be discovered!



This year we've partnered with AOL Moviefone and The Sundance Film Festival to bring you this challenge: direct an original short film incorporating three specific props. One must be a red phone and the other two must be chosen from a list of 25 props that have played stand-out roles in some of the most memorable films to emerge from the Sundance Film Festival over the past 25 years. To choose your props, visit www.youtube.com/projectdirect.



Submissions open on November 16 and close at 9PM PST on December 14. A panel of Sundance Film Festival executives will review your film and whittle the competition down to 10 semi-finalists. Then, on December 27, the YouTube community will start voting for the winning film.



If you win, you'll be off to the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, where you'll meet with the Festival's Director of Programming and screen your film at a festival event. The top three films will also take home cash prizes and be distributed on DVD to industry executives at the Festival.



While the competition proper is only officially open to entrants in the US, Canada, Brazil, UK, Spain, Italy and France, everyone is welcome to submit and we will feature top films on the YouTube site.



Need some inspiration to get started? Check out last year's three finalists:







Visit the Project: Direct channel to learn more, and take advantage of a rare opportunity to introduce your work to both a global audience and key industry executives.



Good luck,

Sara P.

YouTube Film

More about → Attention Filmmakers: Who Wants To Go To Sundance?

Voting now open for PROJECT: REPORT

Today Project: Report, the journalism contest YouTube is holding in partnership with the Pulitzer Center, moves into the voting phase. Submissions for Round 2 are in, and now you can help decide which of the 10 semi-finalists should take a step closer to winning the $10,000 fellowship to report on a story abroad.




The 10 semi-finalists, chosen by a panel of Pulitzer Center journalists, have just turned in their assignments, in which they're asked to tell a local story unfolding in their communities that demonstrates global issues or challenges. Now you have the opportunity to decide which of these aspiring journalists should advance to Round 3 and continue competing for the grand prize.













Visit the Project: Report channel to watch the contestants' efforts and vote for the stories you find the most compelling. You can only vote for one video per day, and voting continues until Sunday, November 16. Also, be sure to stay tuned to the News & Politics page, where we will highlight some of the videos submitted by reporters other than our semi-finalists. The best of this crop will win additional prizes from Sony and Intel.




Happy Viewing (and Voting)!




Yours,

Olivia M

YouTube News & Politics

More about → Voting now open for PROJECT: REPORT

Your Election, Documented on YouTube

In high school gyms, small-town churches, and McDonald's drive-thrus across America, over 130 million Americans voted in this week's presidential election. Thousands of citizens documented their experiences on camera and shared them with the world here on YouTube to commemorate this historic event.




Marking the end of an epic and exhilarating election season, the videos on the homepage today include clips that chronicle the excitement of the big day, and capture the euphoric reactions to Obama's election as the next President of the United States. Jubilant Obama supporters celebrated everywhere -- in their living rooms, in front of the White House, even half-way across the world -- and produced records of their experience that they can one day show their grandchildren.













Over 2,000 videos (and counting) have poured into the Video Your Vote channel thus far, which is where YouTube and PBS teamed up to collect videos capturing the American voting experience. Each one is plotted onto a Google Map, painting a fascinating and important picture of what took place on Tuesday. This record will exist far past this election, allowing you to search and find videos uploaded near your home - and to experience how historic November 4th, 2008 was for America.




Yours,

Olivia M.

YouTube News & Politics.

More about → Your Election, Documented on YouTube

Helping You Shape Your YouTube Experience

As YouTube grows, more and more people from all parts of the world are communicating and connecting. We want to make it easy for you to reach out and learn from each other, while you engage only in those conversations you choose. That's why we've developed the Help and Safety Tool to help you manage communications with other community members.



Using the tool is easy: Once you are logged into your personal account, the tool lets you connect directly into your channel so that you can see all communications you've had with a particular user, remove comments you'd rather not keep, and even block the user from further communication.



In addition to letting you decide which communications you would like to see, the Help and Safety Tool also gives you a simple way to let us know about additional concerns you may have related to other users. This is only the first step; we'll continue to add more features to the tool to keep the power in your hands.



Remember: you have choices on YouTube. To learn more, visit our Abuse & Safety Center, where you can find additional information about these issues. If the Abuse & Safety Center doesn't answer all your questions, you'll find "Contact Us" links at the bottom of some of our articles. Click on the link to get to the new tool, and from there you can report your concerns to us.



The YouTube Team

More about → Helping You Shape Your YouTube Experience

Holiday Solutions Center

The holiday season is quickly approaching. For all the fun that ensues, there are always lots of things to do and sometimes a little stress. Well, YouTube is here to help. This year we've teamed up with Lowes Home Improvement and created the Holiday Solutions Center to help with your holiday hassles and share some great ideas for the special season. This YouTube checkpoint is built to get you through the holidays without a hitch. From cooking to decorating and gift giving, our Holiday Solutions Guide brings together some of our favorite festive experts in one place.









First time hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your house? Epicurious.com gives you recipes and tips on the staples. Want to give your place an inviting feel for the holidays? E-How has plenty of DIY ideas that are quick and simple. Whatever your quandary, the Holiday Solutions Center is the perfect place to visit when you need answers to your holiday questions.




Happy Holidays


Sadia H.


YouTube HowTo & Style

More about → Holiday Solutions Center

Rock Out With Katy Perry, Party with Fred, and Hit the Dance Floor With Soulja Boy Tell Em

SAN BRUNO, CA (November 6, 2008) – YouTube™, the leading online video community for people to discover, watch, and share originally created videos, has added to the talent lineup of YouTube Live, the company’s first official live community celebration. The in-person audience of thousands will experience some of the site’s renowned musicians, bedroom vloggers, side-splitting comedians and world-class athletes at Herbst Pavillion in Fort Mason on November 22. The event will also be streamed live on YouTube at the same time, enabling millions from around the globe to partake in the festivities. To sign up for a chance to get tickets or to tune in on the day of the event, visit http://youtube.com/live.



YouTube Live will honor the most groundbreaking, creative, and buzzworthy videos and individuals from the site’s early days through today. Previously announced participants include internet born stars Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em and Esmee Denters, Grammy Award winners’ Will.I.Am and Akon, and Discovery Channels’ MythBuster stars Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman. New acts scheduled to join this lineup include known performers such as:



• Katy Perry – Music’s top rising star, Katy’s song “I Kissed a Girl” reached #1 in the US as well as in 20 countries across the globe. A hit in its own right, the song became a YouTube sensation by spawning hundreds of parody videos created by users around the world. Her popularity shows no signs of slowing, as the song she’ll be performing, “Hot N Cold,” quickly climbed into the top 5 on Billboard.



• Fred – Since bursting onto the scene less than a year ago, the hyperkinetic Fred Figglehorn, with anger management issues and all, has racked up viewers and subscribers in record fashion. In his first six months the hilarious videos skewering childhood’s biggest fears have amassed more than 135 million video views and 625,000 subscribers, making Fred the all-time number one most subscribed channel in YouTube history.



• Jon M. Chu and The League of Extraordinary Dancers – No YouTube event would be complete without a dance-off, and Step Up 2 The Streets director Jon M. Chu has been front and center for some of YouTube's most celebrated dance videos, including the biggest online dance battle in YouTube history between the Miley Cyrus/ Mandy Jiroux Cru and his ACDC. He's bringing his unique choreographic style to the event by introducing his most ambitious project yet: The League of Extraordinary Dancers.



• Brandon Hardesty – Best known for his spot-on re-enactments of scenes from Hollywood’s most beloved films, Hardesty has quickly become a favorite not only of the YouTube community, but also of Jimmy Kimmel for whom he did a series of recreations leading up to this year’s Academy Awards.



• Joe Satriani – YouTube is a haven for aspiring guitar aficionados hoping to glean techniques from the masters. Few can rival Satriani’s skill, but millions continue to try as videos of the guitar legend rank among the site’s most popular and most commented.



• Bo Burnham – One of YouTube’s most talented young performers, Bo’s original songs are as funny as they are catchy. In addition to more than 20 million views, the 18-year-old comedian has released a best-selling EP, taped an upcoming HBO comedy special, and signed a deal to write a feature-length movie musical for producer Judd Apatow.



• MC Hammer – A pioneer in combining dance and hip-hop, three-time Grammy Award winner MC Hammer remains a powerful influence in music, as evidenced by the hundreds of YouTube videos in which users attempt to emulate his unique dance skills.



• The Spinto Band – Independent music is alive and well on YouTube, as evidenced by the ongoing success of this Wilmington, Delaware rock act. Their wistful harmonies and creative videos have generated some great response, with fans uploading their own versions alongside the band’s official entries.



• Katers 17 – Among the most popular UK YouTube personalities and recently signed to a contract for Starburst, Katers 17 represents the truly global nature of YouTube, bringing her Anglo style and unique Britishisms to her homespun videos.



In addition, a YouTube Live event will be held in Tokyo, extending the celebration to the other side of the Pacific Ocean.



"YouTube Live is the first time a broad variety of YouTube stars are scheduled to appear together under one roof,” said Chris Di Cesare, Head of Marketing for YouTube. “There have been so many wonderful talents that have emerged from YouTube and more established acts continue to recognize how invaluable YouTube is to building their audience. We felt it was only right to recognize them all in true YouTube fashion.”



YouTube also announced today that this inaugural event will be Executive Produced by former MTV veteran Salli Frattini and her newly-formed company, Sunset Lane Entertainment. Frattini is no stranger to charting new courses for entertainment broadcast productions and specials, as she started working at MTV in 1988 and is credited for transforming a then-fledgling franchise into a pop culture icon and annual cool kudofest: the MTV Video Music Awards.

More about → Rock Out With Katy Perry, Party with Fred, and Hit the Dance Floor With Soulja Boy Tell Em

New Features for the YouTube Embeddable Video

You don't have to be on the YouTube site to watch videos. The YouTube player can be added to virtually any website, giving website creators and web surfers infinite access to the YouTube library. With close to 44 percent of our users watching embedded videos, we're committed to constantly refining the player. Today, we are pleased to announce four new features:

• High-quality start images (thumbnails) – Before you press play on embedded YouTube videos, the thumbnails for the video will be presented in high-quality. We're pleased with the results – let us know if you agree.



• Search in embeddable player – At the close of an embedded video or if the user moves the mouse towards the top of the player, a search box will appear. Not only will you be able search from within the embedded player, you will be able to watch videos through the same window. That's right, you can search all of YouTube from the comfort of your favorite blog, news, or humor page.



• Integrated video annotations – Annotations enable video producers to incorporate text information into their videos, create choose your own adventure-style stories or add links to any YouTube video. People watching videos through the embedded player can now join the fun.



• Integrated closed captions – Back in August we started allowing video creators to add captions to their videos. Closed Captions are now available in embedded videos like this one:

Our open APIs and embeddable players allow more and more people to transform the way they distribute and enjoy videos while avoiding the traditional cost and hassle of hosting videos. We look forward to seeing the fun and creative ways you will use these new features.


Let us know what you think by leaving a comment here or posting in our Help Forums.



Have fun,

The YouTube Team

More about → New Features for the YouTube Embeddable Video

Video Your Vote! And Then Watch the Election on YouTube

After thousands of campaign stops, tens of thousands of speeches, and billions of videos viewed on YouTube, the 2008 Election is finally here. What began almost two years ago -- when seven of the 16 primary presidential candidates announced their campaigns on our You Choose '08 platform -- is finally coming to a close as Americans turn out to vote for should lead the country these next four years.




The influence you've had on this political season has been well noted in this blog and by most every major media outlet in the world. Your use of video to document and describe this Election on your own terms has created a new, more democratic political ecosystem and has caused many to call this the "YouTube Election." But while the profound increase in online activity has reshaped our national dialogue in so many new ways, today is where we see just how much it matters: the ultimate political action isn't to upload a video to YouTube or to watch "Yes We Can" or "We Need McCain" one more time; it's to GET OUT AND VOTE.




Today we're featuring all political videos on the homepage of YouTube; check them out and get a flavor for what's coming in on Election Day. We're also plotting videos of your polling place experiences on a special Google Maps mash-up on our Video Your Vote channel with PBS. So bring your video camera with you to your polling place to document your experience; then submit your videos to the Video Your Vote channel and keep an eye on PBS's Election coverage -- they'll broadcast the best ones on TV.









And as always, you can keep track of what the candidates are up to on our You Choose '08 platform.




Congratulations, YouTube users. You've made this a historic Election -- now get out and vote in it! Then stay tuned here to see the first YouTube Election unfold, on video.




Steve Grove

YouTube News & Politics

More about → Video Your Vote! And Then Watch the Election on YouTube

Project: Report - What's your story?

Is there something happening where you live that you think the world should know about? An important story you want to share that others around the world might relate to? Now is your opportunity to tell that story for the chance to win technology prizes from Sony and Intel.




In Round 2 of Project: Report, the journalism contest YouTube is holding in partnership with the Pulitzer Center, aspiring journalists are asked to tell a local story unfolding in their communities that demonstrates global issues or challenges. Your videos must be four minutes or less, and submitted in English or with English subtitles.




If you're looking for some examples, check out this video from Pulitzer Center journalist Kwame Dawes on the HIV epidemic in Jamaica. He also offers tips for how to make a local story globally relevant.











The deadline for Round 2 submissions is just one week from today, so make sure to submit your video to the Project: Report channel (youtube.com/projectreport) by Sunday, November 9 at midnight PT.




The 10 semi-finalists chosen by the Pulitzer Center after Round 1 are busy working on their videos for Round 2, and you'll have the opportunity to vote on which of these reporters should advance to the final round and compete for the grand prize -- a $10,000 journalism fellowship to report on a story abroad.




So stay tuned!




Olivia M.

YouTube News & Politics

More about → Project: Report - What's your story?

Auto Translate Now Available For Videos With Captions

In August, we added captions and subtitles to YouTube videos to help uploaders reach a wider audience.



While we've been working to offer captions in as many different languages as possible, there are often only a few translated versions available. To solve this problem, we added a new "auto translate" feature. Google Translate adds real-time machine translation to any caption tracks you upload. Now you can enjoy this video spoken in Italian, even if you don't understand Italian.



To get a translation for your preferred language, move the mouse over the bottom-right arrow, and then over the small triangle next to the CC (or subtitle) icon, to see the captions menu. Click on the "Translate..." button and then you will be given a choice of many different languages.







When you add captions to your video in one language, it will be readable to almost everybody through auto translate. While machine translation is not perfect, we hope this will help creators to offer you a better understanding of their videos.



For more information about how to use captions, please visit this page.

Tell us what you think of auto translate by leaving a comment here or posting on our Help Forum.



The YouTube Team

More about → Auto Translate Now Available For Videos With Captions

In Cyberspace, No One Can Hear You Scream

If you're someone who scares easily, is afraid of things that go bump in the night, or is terrorized by the prospect of monsters hiding in your closet, then please consider yourself warned: the four horror films lurking in the YouTube Screening Room are not for you.



Seriously, this is some scary stuff. In "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello," a disgraced aerial navigator confronts an unspeakable evil, and finds that it is much closer than he thinks. A young boy's fear of the dark is turned upside down when his trusty security lamp malfunctions in "Night Light." "Advantage" is the story of a young couple who stumbles onto a suburban tennis court and into a sinister game, in which their opponents have a distinct home court advantage. Finally, in "There Are Monsters""... well, you probably catch the drift.



So if you think you're ready to be spooked, startled or just plain terrified, then click here.



But please, don't watch alone.



Sara P.

YouTube Film

More about → In Cyberspace, No One Can Hear You Scream

Happy Halloween from Horror Film Legend Wes Craven

Last year, heavy metal frontman Rob Zombie turned up on YouTube's doorstep to deliver the tricks and treats. This year, our nightmares
were answered when legendary horror film director Wes Craven offered to host the holiday -- immediately proving that the father of Freddy Krueger and the Scream trilogy certainly knows his way around scary movies. He personally introduces his top selections here, a combination of sheer terror, the frighteningly funny and even a few monsters who won't forget to vote.







Along with curating today's Halloween home page, Wes has collected some rare clips where he appears in front of the camera. He created this haunted Video Vault playlist on his YouTube channel for anyone interested in learning more about his directing and writing career.







So, thanks to Wes Craven, this All Hallow's Eve we all can celebrate our own "Nightmare on YouTube" – and remember: whatever you do, don't fall asleep...



Happy Halloween,

The YouTube Team

More about → Happy Halloween from Horror Film Legend Wes Craven

In My Name: Last Chance to Join the Video Petition to End Poverty

A month ago, we launched "In My Name," a global effort to raise awareness around the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and hold world leaders accountable for the promises they made in the year 2000 to end global poverty. The program launched with the help of celebrities like Will.I.Am, Scarlett Johansson, Fergie and John Legend:










Hundreds of you from around the world have already answered the call to action, using YouTube as your platform to urge world leaders to end extreme poverty. Here are a few of the most notable submissions thus far:












If you haven't joined the "In My Name" campaign, it's not too late. All you have to do is visit www.youtube.com/inmyname and upload a simple video, stating your name, home country, and a message to your government about the need to meet the MDGs.



At the culmination of the program, a mash-up of the most powerful submissions from around the world will be broadcast directly to global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, as proof that global citizens are holding them to their commitment to create a better world for everyone. The mash-up will also be broadcast at YouTube's first-ever live event, YouTube Live, on November 22nd.



The deadline to submit your video is November 1. Click here now to add your name and tell your leader that promises are meant to be kept.






Sincerely,

Ramya R.

YouTube Nonprofits & Activism

More about → In My Name: Last Chance to Join the Video Petition to End Poverty