Are you still waiting for an invite to Joost? Well, here’s your chance to win one for free! Simply write a haiku about Joost in the comments below and the best haiku wins an invitation to Joost!
To refresh your memory a haiku is basically a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. See the Wikipedia entry on haiku for more info.
Good luck!
This is some short sample video footage from the Sony DCR-DVD505 camcorder which currently sells for about $739.95. This footage came from this raw footage at ListVideo.com, so you might want to take a look at the raw footage to compare the quality.
Gohepcat gives his recommendation and review for a good and inexpensive camcorder to use for web video. He uses the Canon ZR500 camcorder, which currently goes for about $249.99 in the US.
If you don’t have access to a beautiful Japanese soccer playing woman, but still want to increase the popularity of your videos, don’t despair. Here are a few simple things you can do to help your videos stand out from the crowd…
1. Pick an attention getting thumbnail for your video.
The video to the left took only one day to get to the most viewed videos on YouTube for that day. I wonder why? Hmm… could it have to do with cleavage? I think so. YouTube currently makes a thumbnail preview for your video using whatever is at the halfway point in your video.
You should try to edit wisely so you can have a thumbnail preview that will make people want to click and watch your video. Or, do like LonelyGirl15 does and put a frame or two in the middle to make your video thumbnail. Other video sharing sites allow you to select a thumbnail, but until YouTube adds this option you will have to use this little “hack”. Otherwise you can end up with a very dull looking thumbnail that nobody will be interested in. Try to make a thumbnail that makes people think… “Hmm…I wonder what this video is about?!”.
Nospam4artsnet gives an excellent demonstration on how you can improve your videos with simple changes in your setup. Only one item is changed for each take during this video.
Elyuma has made an excellent video showing some sample video footage from the Canon HV10 High Definition camcorder. The Canon HV10 is currently retailing for $899 and is Canon’s first consumer HD camcorder. If you would like to see the original, uncompressed footage, you can download it here.
Wallyworld shows you how to build a $25 Steadicam which is basically the same homemade steadicam featured earlier, except he uses plastic instead of steel which I think is a much better way to build it. After building it, he shows some sample footage. For more sample footage, watch his other steadicam videos here, here and here!
Blunty3000 gets asked a lot how to improve the quality and watchability of videos and shares some tips with you. Topics covered include how to make better video responses, controversial videos, editing tips and how an accent can bring you more subscribers. 
I discovered this interesting book last night called “Killer Camera Rigs That You Can Build” by Dan Selakovich. This book looks like a goldmine of information that many YouTubers could use. It has 339 pages ad over 1,300 photographs showing you how to build your own camera cranes, car mounts, stabilizers, dollies and more!
Their web site has sample videos and pages from the book to help you decide if you should buy it or not. I don’t have it yet, but perhaps they’ll send me a review copy I’ll buy one and let you know how it is. To be continued…
This is sample video footage from the Canon Elura 100 camcorder. The Canon Elura 100 has replaced all of the other Elura models as the MiniDV format is starting to fade away. This camcorder retails for $399. Go here for an in depth review of the Canon Elura 100.
