YouTube announced a bigger YouTube player yesterday. The company decided to expand the width of the page to 960 pixels in order to help suit the redesigned video screen. The widescreen aspect ratio is now 16:9 instead of the previous 4:3 aspect ratio. According to the site, regular video will still act and look the same as before. I’m definitely digging the new look!

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Today at 5 PM, Youtube will be showcasing its first live stream as it broadcasts a YouTube Live celebration. The feed comes from San Francisco and will be streamed in its entirety.

Performers scheduled to appear include Katy Perry, Joe Satriani, will.i.am and the guys from Mythbusters.

Youtube has yet to issue any formal announcements regarding a livestreaming service like those available via services such as Ustream and Stickam. Expect an announcement of the sort sometime after the celebration.

Chris Di Cesare of YouTube says the event may be the first of a series of annual live-streamed concerts that celebrate the year in viral videos. Sort of like an Oscars celebration, or the season finale of "America’s Funniest Home Videos." Watch a preview video for the event below:

© Copyright NerdGrind 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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In a Web 2.0 update of FDR’s famous fireside chats, President-Elect Barack Obama has pledged to film weekly chats that can be viewed on the Youtube video streaming service. This comes as no surprise, given that during his campaign he uploaded over 1,100 videos and racked up over 110 million views. The talks will also go out over the radio.

In addition to the weekly addresses, cabinet members and policy experts will be holding Q&As and video interviews at Change.gov. Obama will release his first chat, which is expected to cover the transition, next week.

© Copyright NerdGrind 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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MGM has announced it will be putting up full-length movies from its archive on to Youtube. First, the company will test the waters by putting up full-length TV shows. Old episodes of American Gladiators will be the first to hit Youtube, followed by a limited collection of movies including "Bulletproof Monk" and "The Magnificent Seven."

MGM will be making money by allowing the full-length features to be ad-supported. In time, MGM plans on releasing most of their archive on the popular video streaming site.

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Brace yourselves – this guy in the picture doesn’t have pants on, GASP! Who wears flannel boxers anyway? Apparently Pat Connelly (above) does. He is , an ex-Midway employee, who is taking Nintendo to court.  A YouTube video up showing a Pat demonstrating something astoundingly similar to a Wiimote / Nunchuck… eight years ago. His demo shows his hacked-together controllers providing a surprisingly-responsive interface for a bit of Ready 2 Rumble Boxing on the Dreamcast. Connelly, says that he has had no formal involvement with the Wii, but holds the related patents and is taking Nintendo to the BANK.

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At 9 Inches, 2 pounds, 5 hours of battery life, the Cloudbook comes with Surf, email, blog, IM, Skype, compute. The Everex / Packard Bell / FIC Nanobook / Cloudbook / CE260 will be selling at (of all places) Wal-Mart as of January 25th.

With 1.2GHz VIA C7-M CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive, and a 800 x 480 display — and all for $399.

Installed software includes: Mozilla Firefox, gMail, Meebo, Skype, Wikipedia, GIMP, Blogger, YouTube, Xing Movie Player, RythemBox, Faqly, Facebook and OpenOffice.org 2.3 (includes WRITER, IMPRESS, DRAW, CALC, BASE).

© Copyright NerdGrind 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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If you wonder why a benign ferris wheel is shown here, it is ConnectLand’s USB Ferris Wheel Phone Stand. If your life is hopelessly boring, then you might enjoy this USB-powered (or 2 AAs) that will let you know when you have a phone call. The wheel spins and plays music and makes you feel 5 years old again.

What the heck. It’s only $27 and you can pass it along to the kid next door. Check the YouTube Video

Features:

• Incoming phone call alarm with rotation of the Ferris wheel
• Funny tune with On/Mute/Off switch
• Ferris wheel with 11cm diameter and 10 fun-seeking figures
• 2 LEDs in red and green colors
• Powered by USB or 2 AA batteries
• Dimensions: 22 x 9.2 x 18cm
• Weight: 305g

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Another gadget for the YouTubers. This miVDOFX DV Cam will snap still images like a digital camera, but it will also allow you to add 18 built-in special effects and music instantly to your movies.

With a 1.5″ color screen, a 4X digital zoom, a built-in speaker, and an SD slot (expandable to 2GB), it will let you record from your ipod or MP3 player while filming.

No word on price or availability.

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YouTube is in some trouble for reportedly hosting Nazi related material uploaded by users. Clips include scenes from the 1940 Nazi propaganda film Jud Suess and music videos from German far-right rock band Landser.

A German parliamentarian was quoted as saying that YouTube hosting these films “amounts to aiding and abetting incitement of these people.” The display of Nazi imagery or logos, or supporting Nazi ideals is illegal in Germany and punishable by jail time as well as severe fines.

Free speech – or not?

© Copyright NerdGrind 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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Casio has released two new face detecting cameras:

Casio’s $280 Z1080 digital camera – Features
• 10.1 million effective pixels, 3x optical zoom
• Best Shot function
• High-sensitivity shooting mode
• ISO 6400
• 2.6-inch bright widescreen LCD display
• Brightness of 1000 cd/m² at the center of the LCD screen
• Maximum 7 shot/second high-speed continuous shutter (at 2.0 megapixel)
• Super Life Battery allows up to 370 shots to be taken when fully charged
• Movie mode with electronic image stabilization function.
• High-quality movies using the H.264 standard
• YouTube Capture Mode for uploading to YouTube
• Comes with unique "YouTube Uploader for Casio" software
• Choice of five camera body colors: gray, black, blue, pink and gold

Casio’s $330 V8 digital camera – Features
• 8.1 million effective pixels, 7x optical zoom
• CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism
• 2.5-inch bright LCD display
• Max. brightness of 1000 cd/m² at the center of the LCD screen
• Maximum 4 shot/second high-speed continuous shutter (at 2.0 megapixel)
• High-quality movies using the H.264 standard
• Movie mode with electronic image stabilization function.
• YouTube Capture Mode for uploading to YouTube
• Comes with unique "YouTube Uploader for Casio" software
• Choice of two camera body colors: silver and black

© Copyright NerdGrind 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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