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13/02/2009

Comments

AJ Cann

I don't think it's pointless. I constantly get asked for "hard copies" of videos I give away freely online. YT is *the* video distribution channel. It's the place where teenagers look for information - before checking Google or Wikipedia. It has an emerging community and culture (memes, etc). Pointless? Quite the opposite. It's going to be what Google Video was always intended to be. The initial YT dl offering may not be faultless, but they're in the testing phase. This has major potential. Movie distribution cannot be far behind.
(Wish they get RSS sorted out properly though).

mweller

I can see BobK99's point about it being useful for teachers who's school blocks YT. But I'm not convinced - why do people ask you for copies of your video that's online? Isn't that just an old habit, like asking for a copy of a paper? They're not accustomed to it being online meaning they own it (in a sense).
Film distribution? Maybe, although I'd argue iTunes is the main distribution channel. And, as I argued before - why own it if it was always available anyway? Maybe they'll do pay per view, that I could see.So I disagree Alan, I don't think it has major potential. Fight! fight! Fight!

Doug Clow

Connectivity, bandwidth and usage restrictions/caps/problems haven't been eliminated yet and won't be for the forseeable.

So people who might care, off the top of my head:

* Tube commuter who likes to look at videos en route
(no connectivity underground)
* Teenager using an Eee with a PAYG 3G dongle (more than happy to trade time fiddling on/offline versions for a few pence worth of download credit)
* Home user with a cheapo ADSL account with very tight usage cap

etc.

Not a huge deal but a useful extra feature, I think.

AJ Cann

Bandwidth is an issue for some, but sense of "ownership" is the bigger issue, particularly when people feel they are putting their arse on the line by using technology, e.g. in a lecture theatre. (Can I say "arse" here? Arse. Seems to work OK). My point is that if download opens up the content to more people, that's good. And there is clear evidence that there is a technophobic population for whom this route might ease their concerns.

Adam

1. The ability to download YouTube videos on a Creative Commons license lets people sample off of YouTube in order to remix something into their own original content.

2. If you know you're going to be without internet access for a prolonged period this allows you to stockpile some videos to entertain yourself.

I think this is a good idea that they should have implemented a while ago.

James

Martin, do you have teens? If so, think about how much video they (at least mine) rip to their iPods to watch on the bus or when they're killing time.

When you factor in how much time they'll spend on Youtube on their computer, I actually think it's a big deal.

In the interest of OA, should some progressive educator make their lectures available on Youtube instead of something like iTunesU, then there might even be a big upside for mobile educational ends.

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