YouTube has risen to the top of streaming video; this and the fact that anyone can make a video and publish it on YouTube. I am sure there are so many other reasons for YouTube’s success but I am sure that one of them is because people do NOT have to pay to use the service.
But what of this piece of news that has been making people go “really?” I heard from so many people from different places that YouTube is NOT going to be free anymore. YouTube is going to be a paid service. Oh no, it’s the end of the world!
Of course, the untrusting person in me just would not take these people’s words for the truth – I had to look it up myself and voila, I was right. They were all overreacting.
There is indeed truth to the news that YouTube will have a paid service but this is not the entirety. In fact, YouTube is currently only TESTING the paid service. The idea is for users to be able to download content in high resolution MP4 format for a fee. Part of this fee will go to the creator of the video. And since YouTube is part of Google now, you can pay for the downloads through Google Checkout.
Again, take note that this does NOT mean that you cannot watch videos for free anymore. It just means that if you want a copy for yourself, you have to pay for it. Fair enough, don’t you think?
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Paid Service, Site News, Videos
I hadn’t realized just how busy I had become until I heard people talking about watching the latest TV series the night before. Although I was – and am – aware of the shows that many people are talking about, I noticed one big difference. They watched the shows on primetime television while I watched them during the weekend.
All I can say is thank goodness for being able to download TV series. I may be an episode or two behind – I may even be a season behind! – but at least, I can still fit some TV in my crazy schedule.
Speaking of downloading TV shows, have you heard? NBC Direct has been relaunched. For those who are unsure as to what I am talking about, NBC Direct is the video download service of the station of the same name. This service has actually been around for years but has not really taken off due to one issue or another. Perhaps there are just other better services out there.
This time around, though, it seems that NBC has placed a lot of effort into the relaunch – the third, if I am not mistaken – of NBC Direct and it just might take off. The Download Squad cites two main reasons why this is so:
1. You can watch videos while you’re not connected to the internet
2. Videos are available in high definition
Indeed, being to watch videos offline after you have downloaded them is one of the most important things to many viewers. More so, with all the emphasis placed on high def, being able to watch shows in high def for free just tops all other services. Visit NBC Direct here.
Categories: Downloading Legally, TV Shows, Videos
As if there were not enough deterrents for many people to download legally over the Internet! Now I hear talk of actually taxing people over downloads! This is coming from the governor of New York, David Paterson. His spokesman has released statements to the effect that the governor’s proposal would entail applying four percent tax on any download. This means that if the proposal is approved, New Yorkers can expect to pay four percent tax on anything ranging from music, books, software, and video.
Obviously, I am not in agreement with this kind of proposal. We already know how a large number of people are avoiding having to pay for downloads by doing so through illegal means. Imposing a levy on legal downloads would only add to the financial burden of those who are already in a bad way.
So what is the rationale behind this proposal? New York is not the only state that is facing a deficit in budget. The governor’s office is looking to the four percent download tax as a possible means of lessening that deficit. While the tax may not totally get rid of the deficit, it just might close the gap.
However, the business sector is saying that this move might not work out as planned. Some people are saying that the hardest hit area would probably be pornographic downloads. This would in turn, result in businesses moving away from New York.
Business sense aside, all I am saying is that New Yorkers will not be very happy with having to pay four percent on anything they download.
Categories: Downloading Legally, Random Thoughts, Site News
