Showing posts with label Google Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Google Video. Show all posts
May 23, 2011
Music Album Filtering in Google Video
Google started to learn more about music. After improving the Web search results for music videos by adding metadata, Google added the same enhancements to Google Video. Now you can even find a list of popular albums when you search for an artist. Select one of the albums and you'll restrict the results to the songs from the album. The nice thing is that Google's algorithms make sure that the results are diverse and songs aren't repeated too often.
April 16, 2011
Videos Uploaded to Google Video Will Be Removed Next Month
Google sent the following message to everyone who uploaded videos to Google Video:
It's really disappointing to see that Google doesn't provide an option to migrate your videos to YouTube. In fact, this option should've been available two years ago, when Google Video became a search engine. There are about 2.8 million videos hosted by Google Video and it's hard to believe that all of them will be manually uploaded to YouTube.
Google Video is an archive of high-quality videos: there are many documentaries, interviews, lectures and it's sad to see them disappear. Even if Google Answers was discontinued in 2006, the archived content is still useful.
{ Thanks, Richard and Kevin. }
Later this month, hosted video content on Google Video will no longer be available for playback. Google Video stopped taking uploads in May 2009 and now we're removing the remaining hosted content. We've always maintained that the strength of Google Video is its ability to let people search videos from across the web, regardless of where those videos are hosted. And this move will enable us to focus on developing these technologies further to the benefit of searchers worldwide.
On April 29, 2011, videos that have been uploaded to Google Video will no longer be available for playback. We've added a Download button to the video status page, so you can download any video content you want to save. If you don't want to download your content, you don't need to do anything. (The Download feature will be disabled after May 13, 2011.)
We encourage you to move to your content to YouTube if you haven't done so already. YouTube offers many video hosting options including the ability to share your videos privately or in an unlisted manner. (...)
If you have many videos on Google Video, you may need to use the paging controls located on the bottom right of the page to access them all.
Please note: This download option will be available through May 13, 2011.
Thank you for being a Google Video user.
It's really disappointing to see that Google doesn't provide an option to migrate your videos to YouTube. In fact, this option should've been available two years ago, when Google Video became a search engine. There are about 2.8 million videos hosted by Google Video and it's hard to believe that all of them will be manually uploaded to YouTube.
Google Video is an archive of high-quality videos: there are many documentaries, interviews, lectures and it's sad to see them disappear. Even if Google Answers was discontinued in 2006, the archived content is still useful.
{ Thanks, Richard and Kevin. }
March 24, 2011
Google Video Previews
Google's instant previews for video sites weren't very useful because most video sites use Flash and the software that generates thumbnails can't handle Flash. That's probably one of the reasons why Google replaced the standard screenshots with short clips from the videos. By default, the sound is muted, but you can change this setting. The feature is also available at Google Video next to some search results.
"When it comes to videos, people want to spend less time searching and more time watching. That's why we added an enhancement to Instant Previews—the ability to preview videos. Click once on the magnifying glass next to the title of any video search result in universal or video mode. For some videos, you'll now be able to play through a set of four short segments from the video to see if it’s what you’re looking for (video providers have to opt to make the previews available, so you won't find it for every video yet)," explains Google.
Even if Google announced this feature a couple of weeks ago, it's still spotty, so it may not be available for you. You can also try Bing's Video Search, which offers a similar feature that probably inspired Google.
"When it comes to videos, people want to spend less time searching and more time watching. That's why we added an enhancement to Instant Previews—the ability to preview videos. Click once on the magnifying glass next to the title of any video search result in universal or video mode. For some videos, you'll now be able to play through a set of four short segments from the video to see if it’s what you’re looking for (video providers have to opt to make the previews available, so you won't find it for every video yet)," explains Google.
Even if Google announced this feature a couple of weeks ago, it's still spotty, so it may not be available for you. You can also try Bing's Video Search, which offers a similar feature that probably inspired Google.
February 25, 2011
Google Video's Strange Disclaimer
Google Video's homepage shows a strange message below the list of query suggestions: "In accordance with local laws and regulations, some results were removed from this list." The message is displayed for every query you enter, so it's unlikely that some of the suggestions are removed.
Update: Google says that "the appearance of the message on every search was in fact a bug and has since been corrected."
Update: Google says that "the appearance of the message on every search was in fact a bug and has since been corrected."
April 9, 2010
Search for TV Shows in Google Video
Google Video has a new filter that restricts search results to TV shows. For example, if you search for [Seinfeld], Google lets you select one of the 9 seasons of the show. Google shows the name of each episode and a list of sites where you can watch it.
Google doesn't restrict the results to sites that are licensed to stream TV shows, so many videos are from Russian sites like Yandex and Smotri.
As you probably noticed, Google Video no longer has the option to play videos inline and Google says that there are no plans to restore it. The feature has been gradually removed from Google web search, for YouTube videos and now it's no longer available.
Google doesn't restrict the results to sites that are licensed to stream TV shows, so many videos are from Russian sites like Yandex and Smotri.
As you probably noticed, Google Video no longer has the option to play videos inline and Google says that there are no plans to restore it. The feature has been gradually removed from Google web search, for YouTube videos and now it's no longer available.
February 1, 2010
Google Video Finds Playlists
Google's video search engine started to index playlists from YouTube and other video sites. Playlists are mixed with standard video search results, but you'll probably find them on the first search results pages if they're relevant.
It's interesting to note that Google's algorithms detect groups of videos even if they aren't called playlists.
"Our intent is to represent the video content of the internet fairly and accurately. We don't give special ranking preference to videos hosted by YouTube or Google Video, nor do we manipulate search results in any way. We believe strongly in allowing the democracy of the Web to determine the inclusion and ranking of videos in our search results. After determining the content of the video using our spidering technology, Google then combines sophisticated text-matching techniques to find videos that are both important and relevant to your search. Our technology examines dozens of aspects of the video's content (including number of hits and rating) to determine if it's a good match for your query," explains Google.
It's interesting to note that Google's algorithms detect groups of videos even if they aren't called playlists.
"Our intent is to represent the video content of the internet fairly and accurately. We don't give special ranking preference to videos hosted by YouTube or Google Video, nor do we manipulate search results in any way. We believe strongly in allowing the democracy of the Web to determine the inclusion and ranking of videos in our search results. After determining the content of the video using our spidering technology, Google then combines sophisticated text-matching techniques to find videos that are both important and relevant to your search. Our technology examines dozens of aspects of the video's content (including number of hits and rating) to determine if it's a good match for your query," explains Google.
December 12, 2009
Google Video Finds Cartoons and Slideshows
Google Video has a new feature that lets you restrict search results to cartoons and slideshows. After performing a search, click "Show options" and select "Cartoons" or "Slideshows" from the list of options. Google uses a video recognition technology that tries to classify videos, but the accuracy is far from impressive.
Unfortunately, Google's video search engine ruined the "TV view" feature that allowed you to play videos without opening a new page. YouTube videos are no longer played in the embedded player, while the other videos are played on the search results page only if you click on "Play video".
Unfortunately, Google's video search engine ruined the "TV view" feature that allowed you to play videos without opening a new page. YouTube videos are no longer played in the embedded player, while the other videos are played on the search results page only if you click on "Play video".
September 4, 2009
A Simple Design for Google Video
Even though you can no longer upload videos to Google Video, the service hasn't been abandoned and it's still actively developed. The focus has been switched to video search and Google Video powers YouTube Search.
I still think that disabling the uploads to Google Video was a mistake: probably the most useful videos hosted by Google Video are longer than 10 minutes and couldn't be uploaded to YouTube. You can't upload Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" to YouTube without splitting it.
To make the transition to YouTube easier, Google redesigned Google Video, removed some features that were rarely used and made the video player smaller.
I still think that disabling the uploads to Google Video was a mistake: probably the most useful videos hosted by Google Video are longer than 10 minutes and couldn't be uploaded to YouTube. You can't upload Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" to YouTube without splitting it.
To make the transition to YouTube easier, Google redesigned Google Video, removed some features that were rarely used and made the video player smaller.
June 7, 2009
Google Video Adds Search Options
Google Video exposes some advanced search options directly on the search results pages: click on "show options" and you can choose between three layouts (TV view, list view, grid view), pick a duration interval, sort the results by date or view only the high-quality videos.
Google has recently added a similar feature for web search results and, even though it should make the advanced search options more visible, most users will never click on "show options" to find them.
Google has recently added a similar feature for web search results and, even though it should make the advanced search options more visible, most users will never click on "show options" to find them.
April 22, 2009
Google Video Updates the Interface
Google Video removed the ability to upload videos and it's now just a video search engine. Even if YouTube is a better place to build an audience that watches your videos, Google Video had its unique appeal and it was a great service for uploading long-form videos.
Another change is that Google Video updated the design for the search results pages and change the TV view mode to look more like the standard result pages for web search. The video player is much smaller and the results dominate the page, making you wonder why Google still calls the interface "TV view". Below the small video player, there's a filmstrip that lets jump to different parts of the video, a list of related videos and an option to email the video.
The new interface has a lot of flaws: the video player moves as you scroll down, the list of related videos is not always visible, Google Video no longer displays ratings and there's a lot of unused space.
I hope the service will manage to find its identity, because Google Video is Google's service that had the most structural changes: from trying to index the captions for TV shows to hosting videos, from a video store to a business tool and a video search engine.
Here's one of the first viral videos uploaded to Google Video, back in 2005, when Back Dorm Boys became famous for lip syncing to Backstreet Boys songs:
Related:
A brief history of Google Video
Another change is that Google Video updated the design for the search results pages and change the TV view mode to look more like the standard result pages for web search. The video player is much smaller and the results dominate the page, making you wonder why Google still calls the interface "TV view". Below the small video player, there's a filmstrip that lets jump to different parts of the video, a list of related videos and an option to email the video.
The new interface has a lot of flaws: the video player moves as you scroll down, the list of related videos is not always visible, Google Video no longer displays ratings and there's a lot of unused space.
I hope the service will manage to find its identity, because Google Video is Google's service that had the most structural changes: from trying to index the captions for TV shows to hosting videos, from a video store to a business tool and a video search engine.
Here's one of the first viral videos uploaded to Google Video, back in 2005, when Back Dorm Boys became famous for lip syncing to Backstreet Boys songs:
Related:
A brief history of Google Video
March 27, 2009
More Search Options in an Experimental Google Video Interface
Google tests a new "tool belt" format that exposes some advanced options and lets you refine the search results without visiting a special page. The format has been tested for web search, image search and now Google Video.
The experimental interface for Google Video includes a link to "search options" which displays a sidebar that lets you restrict the results to a certain video site, choose a date range, the duration of the videos and if they are embeddable. Most of the options are currently available in drop-downs below the search box and in the advanced search, but the new interface makes them more visible and encourages their use.
What I don't like is that Google devotes less space to the videos, it's more difficult to scan the results and the player's position changes when you scroll down.
To try the new interface, go to Google Video and paste in the address bar the following JavaScript code:
{ Thanks, Shaz. }
The experimental interface for Google Video includes a link to "search options" which displays a sidebar that lets you restrict the results to a certain video site, choose a date range, the duration of the videos and if they are embeddable. Most of the options are currently available in drop-downs below the search box and in the advanced search, but the new interface makes them more visible and encourages their use.
What I don't like is that Google devotes less space to the videos, it's more difficult to scan the results and the player's position changes when you scroll down.
To try the new interface, go to Google Video and paste in the address bar the following JavaScript code:
{ Thanks, Shaz. }
March 10, 2009
Google Video Upload, Powered by Gears
Google Video started to diminish the importance of the uploading feature by placing the "upload" link at the bottom of the homepage. What's surprising is that uploading videos to Google Video now requires Google Gears so you can upload huge files simultaneously (up to 1 GB) and see the progress.
In January, Google announced that it will discontinue support for uploads to Google Video in a few months. "We've always maintained that Google Video's strength is in the search technology that makes it possible for people to search videos from across the web, regardless of where they may be hosted. And this move will enable us to focus on developing these technologies further to the benefit of searchers worldwide."
Even though Google owns YouTube, a much more popular video hosting service, Google Video attracts a different audience that watches longer videos and doesn't like the extraneous social features from services like YouTube. Google could use the same back-end for both services and promote Google Video as the place where you can watch Charlie Rose's interviews, interviews from the archive of American Television or public domain movies.
In January, Google announced that it will discontinue support for uploads to Google Video in a few months. "We've always maintained that Google Video's strength is in the search technology that makes it possible for people to search videos from across the web, regardless of where they may be hosted. And this move will enable us to focus on developing these technologies further to the benefit of searchers worldwide."
Even though Google owns YouTube, a much more popular video hosting service, Google Video attracts a different audience that watches longer videos and doesn't like the extraneous social features from services like YouTube. Google could use the same back-end for both services and promote Google Video as the place where you can watch Charlie Rose's interviews, interviews from the archive of American Television or public domain movies.
February 20, 2009
Google Video, Back in Google's Main Navigation
Google Video replaced Product Search in Google's main navigation, now that Google's comparison shopping site started to become popular.
Google Video first replaced Froogle on the homepage in 2006, two months before Google acquired YouTube.
A year later, Froogle replaced Google Video on the homepage and it was rebranded as Google Product Search.
And now Google Video is back on Google's main navigation, while Froogle is available in the "more" drop-down.
Google Video first replaced Froogle on the homepage in 2006, two months before Google acquired YouTube.
A year later, Froogle replaced Google Video on the homepage and it was rebranded as Google Product Search.
And now Google Video is back on Google's main navigation, while Froogle is available in the "more" drop-down.
November 10, 2008
Filter File Types from Google Video's Results
Google Video added a new option to the advanced search page: you can now filter videos that weren't uploaded to video sharing sites. If the search results include many videos that have one of these formats: ASF, AVI, FLV, M4V, MPV, MP4, MPG or WMV, you can exclude them by unchecking the corresponding box.
Unfortunately, Google Video doesn't provide an option to restrict the results to one or more of these formats, like you can do at Yahoo Video Search.
Unfortunately, Google Video doesn't provide an option to restrict the results to one or more of these formats, like you can do at Yahoo Video Search.
October 11, 2008
No More Annoying Frames in Google Video
Google has finally made the right decision and it removed that were created when you clicked on a result from Google Video. Instead of directly linking to the original site, Google used frames to show both the external site and a list of related videos from Google Video. This duplicated the functionality from video sites like YouTube, while making it difficult to navigate and to share a URL.
Here's the first version of the frame, from June 2007:
... and a screenshot from April 2008, when Google Video has been redesigned:
Google Image Search uses a similar frame, but it's more useful as it provides information about search results. If you don't like the frame from Google Image Search, you can use Greasemonkey scripts like Google Image Relinker or Google Image direct links to bypass it.
Here's the first version of the frame, from June 2007:
... and a screenshot from April 2008, when Google Video has been redesigned:
Google Image Search uses a similar frame, but it's more useful as it provides information about search results. If you don't like the frame from Google Image Search, you can use Greasemonkey scripts like Google Image Relinker or Google Image direct links to bypass it.
September 8, 2008
Google Video Suggest
Google Video started to display suggestions in the search box. The suggestions are identical to the ones used for YouTube probably because Google has a single platform for searching videos which is used by both YouTube and Google Video.
The number of suggestions is 5 and they can be disabled in the preferences page by selecting "Do not provide query suggestions in the search box".
So why use Google Video instead of finding videos on YouTube? Google Video indexes videos from hundreds of sites, many of the videos can be played without opening a new page and you can share them with your Gmail contacts.
The number of suggestions is 5 and they can be disabled in the preferences page by selecting "Do not provide query suggestions in the search box".
So why use Google Video instead of finding videos on YouTube? Google Video indexes videos from hundreds of sites, many of the videos can be played without opening a new page and you can share them with your Gmail contacts.
August 9, 2008
Restrict Google Video Results to Embeddable Videos
Google Video has a new option: restrict the search results to videos that can be embedded in a web page. This is especially useful for the TV view that plays videos without opening new pages. Google shows a small "play" icon next to the videos that are playable inline.
In other related news, Google Video tests an autocomplete feature that shows popular queries from YouTube [sic]. As previously reported, YouTube Suggest has been launched in May after more than a month of public testing.
In other related news, Google Video tests an autocomplete feature that shows popular queries from YouTube [sic]. As previously reported, YouTube Suggest has been launched in May after more than a month of public testing.
July 14, 2008
Google Demoes Video Search with Speech Recognition
Google released a demo for a speech-to-text technology that allows you to search inside a video's content. You can add an iGoogle gadget that is restricted to a small number of political videos from YouTube. Since the gadget is actually an iframe, you can also go to the original page.
"Using the gadget you can search not only the titles and descriptions of the videos, but also their spoken content. Additionally, since speech recognition tells us exactly when words are spoken in the video, you can jump right to the most relevant parts of the videos you find," explains Google.
EveryZing uses speech-to-text technology to search for audio and video across the web. The site has a separate section for YouTube videos, but the coverage is unimpressive.
"Using the gadget you can search not only the titles and descriptions of the videos, but also their spoken content. Additionally, since speech recognition tells us exactly when words are spoken in the video, you can jump right to the most relevant parts of the videos you find," explains Google.
EveryZing uses speech-to-text technology to search for audio and video across the web. The site has a separate section for YouTube videos, but the coverage is unimpressive.
May 26, 2008
Google Video's Player Detached from Search Results
The default view for Google Video, TV view, has been updated and you can now search for videos without interrupting the video that is already playing. You can go to the next page of results or reformulate your query, while still watching a video.
You'll also notice that Google Video can play videos inline not only from Google's sites, but from many other popular video sites (some notable exceptions: AOL Video, MySpace, Yahoo Video).
Google Video started by close-captioning TV shows, then moved to hosting videos, searching videos on the web and now the natural evolution is to come full circle back to close-captioning videos. Maybe in the future Google Video will bring back playlists and we'll be able to watch a selection of videos, like in YouTube Fast Search.
You'll also notice that Google Video can play videos inline not only from Google's sites, but from many other popular video sites (some notable exceptions: AOL Video, MySpace, Yahoo Video).
Google Video started by close-captioning TV shows, then moved to hosting videos, searching videos on the web and now the natural evolution is to come full circle back to close-captioning videos. Maybe in the future Google Video will bring back playlists and we'll be able to watch a selection of videos, like in YouTube Fast Search.
April 28, 2008
Google Video Categories
The latest Google Video redesign removed yet another useful feature from the interface: restricting search results to a certain category. The feature is still available, but you need to use the genre: operator in your searches. Here are some of the most popular genres:
genre:animation
genre:comedy
genre:documentary
genre:educational
genre:gaming
genre:movie_feature
genre:music
genre:sports
genre:tv_show
Examples of searches:
ufo genre:documentary
charlie chaplin genre:movie_feature
data mining genre:educational
You can also use the genre: operator to better describe your search when you want to subscribe to a Google Video feed or to get an email alert when new videos are uploaded.
At some point in Google Video's history, you could browse videos by genre directly from the homepage, but you can still use the genre: operator without any other keyword to see popular videos from a certain category, like TV shows.
genre:animation
genre:comedy
genre:documentary
genre:educational
genre:gaming
genre:movie_feature
genre:music
genre:sports
genre:tv_show
Examples of searches:
ufo genre:documentary
charlie chaplin genre:movie_feature
data mining genre:educational
You can also use the genre: operator to better describe your search when you want to subscribe to a Google Video feed or to get an email alert when new videos are uploaded.
At some point in Google Video's history, you could browse videos by genre directly from the homepage, but you can still use the genre: operator without any other keyword to see popular videos from a certain category, like TV shows.
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